Collection 

Sustainable Flexible Electronics

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Open
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Flexible electronics, designed to adapt to diverse shapes, are leading the charge towards sustainability in response to growing environmental concerns. These electronics prioritize waste reduction by employing eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable polymers and recycled elements. This not only minimizes reliance on limited resources but also decreases energy consumption thanks to more efficient designs.

Significant strides have been made in innovating materials, refining recycling techniques, and enhancing biodegradability. Current efforts focus on prolonging device lifespans through repairable and upgradeable designs. The integration of these breakthroughs into wearable tech and sensors signifies a crucial shift towards practical real-world applications.

The impetus behind curating this collection arises from a shared recognition of the pressing need for sustainable technological solutions. As environmental challenges escalate, the quest for sustainable flexible electronics aligns with our collective goal to mitigate technology's adverse impact on the planet. Through collaborative efforts and the convergence of diverse expertise, this initiative aims to expedite progress towards eco-friendly electronic innovations.

We eagerly invite submissions on sustainable flexible electronics. All contributions will undergo the same rigorous peer-review process and editorial standards as regular npj Flexible Electronics articles. The Guest Editors handling the submissions affirm no competing interests.

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Flexible solar cells from ruthenium.

Editors

Tian Li, PhD, Purdue University, United States
Dr. Tian Li is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China. She carried out her PhD under Prof. Mario Dagenais in the area of microelectronics and non-linear optics in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Maryland. She then joined Prof. Liangbing Hu's group in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the same University for Postdoc study. Tian was recognized as a Packard Fellow, Violet B. Haas Fellow and is the recipient of many awards including Forbes 30 under 30, ASME Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Award, R&D 100 Finalist, Sony Research Innovation Award, MRS postdoc award, among others. Her research work has been covered in many medias including Science podcast, Nature index, New York Times and others. 

Luigi Occhipinti, PhD, University of Cambridge, UK
Dr. Luigi Occhipinti joined the University of Cambridge in April 2014. He developed science and innovation for more than 20 years in emerging technology areas for the post-CMOS roadmap, smart systems heterogeneous integration, polymer and printed electronics, advanced bio-systems and molecular diagnostics, advanced signal processing and nonlinear computation, advanced mechanical, optical and chemical sensor technologies, with focus on miniaturization and advanced packaging technologies for smart devices and products. His current position is Director of Research in Graphene and Related Technologies and he serves as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Cambridge Graphene Centre.

Gregory Whiting, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder, United States
Dr. Gregory Whiting joined the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.  He is also a fellow of the Materials Science and Engineering Program, co-director of the Design Center Colorado, affiliate faculty of the ATLAS Institute, and a member of the Multi-Functional Materials Interdisciplinary Research Team.  His research is focused at the intersection of additive manufacturing, novel materials, and functional devices.  Greg is primarily interested in using printing as a method to fabricate unconventional electronic components and systems that can be readily customized, mechanically flexible/conformable, large area, widely distributed, biocompatible, and/or controllably transient.  These devices can find application in a wide range of areas including agriculture, off-planet manufacturing, robotics, medicine, environmental monitoring, and energy generation and storage.