As the production of electronic devices continues to increase, scientists are trying to use nature and biodegradability in common components such as microchip.
So believe it or not, the skin from the mycelium of a mushroom can protect chips from temperatures of up to 200°C.
Scientists from Johannes Kepler University in Austria working on this project found that the mycelium skin is not only heat resistant, but will last for years and can be bent and folded thousands of times without wearing out or tearing. .
The fungus in question is Ganoderma lucidum, which grows on rotting wood in the mountains of Europe. As it matures, it creates a fibrous bark to protect itself from the bacteria present on its substrate (wood in this case). This shell can protect microchips.
The substrate under a computing chip is usually made of non-recyclable materials material such as non-reusable plastic.
"The huge number of devices produced every day together with their decreasing lifespan inevitably leads to the creation of huge amounts of e-waste," write the authors of the study, who published in Science Advances.
"Mrsclickor economy and concepts of recycling alone cannot solve the growing waste crisis. THE research of electronics, and especially electronic materials research, must therefore shift its focus from strictly high functionalto sustainable, cost-effective approaches”.
The mycelium crust, which protects the mushroom from the entry of bacteria, breaks down in nature in just 10 days.
According to the researchers, the cortex is slightly less insulating than the plastic, but still withstands high temperatures.
At present, the team πιστεύει ότι ο φλοιός από το μυκήλιο θα μπορούσε να διαπρέψει σε προϊόντα που δεν απαιτούν ηλεκτρικά κυκλώματα μεγάλης διάρκειας, όπως wearable health monitors και near-field communication (NFC) tags για ηλεκτρονικές συσκευές. Ωστόσο, χρειάζεται περισσότερος χρόνος για την ανάπτυξη.