With all of the technology that exists in the world today and with new devices coming out all of the time there has been a very quick build-up in the disposal of technology and devices, leading to all kinds of safety and environmental issues that need to be addressed. Many of the components used in making these devices involve the use of computer chips that are made with metal and chemicals that cannot be recycled and can be hazardous. This has caused a great deal of worry among environmentalists, but it also spurred on science and technology to develop safer options. Word is that now there is work being done to create wooden computer chips to help deal with these issues safely.
The Inner Workings of the Chips
Researchers have been working on designing semiconductor chips that are made from wood-based materials instead of the chemicals typically used in the process. By replacing the standard workings of the chips with what is known as cellulose nanofibril, which are basically wood fibers that can be used in the same manner as the other chips, it can make these chips completely biodegradable. While there was an initially worry concerning moisture getting into the inner workings of the chip to disrupt the process, this issue was addressed through the use of a simple epoxy coating. This coating makes the device resistant to water so there would not be any expansion taking place in the wood that could lead to cracking and breaking.
Why This is Important
The landfill problem that has arisen because of all of the technology that is disposed of today has become a real problem worldwide. While some of the components used in devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets and the like can be recycled, many are now sealed together, making recycling impossible. This means components are thrown away and the chemicals used in the devices can easily leech into the ground, causing contamination. With the use of wooden chips, the chip would simply degrade on its own in nature and be completely safe with no worries. This could potentially lead to more of the devices being made out of wood-based materials so that they can be safer for the environment when they are disposed of. There would then be no concerns about what would be happening to environment from all of the devices thrown away.
While this is just a first step, the potential is certainly there for wooden devices to lead to even more development. The process can be refined even more to make it easier and even cheaper than the semiconductor chips that are used today, making the process and possibilities more attractive to chip makers and technology companies. The hope is that this first step will lead to further development down the road that can help in solving the dilemma that has been created because of the large proliferation of gadgets and technology that are used today, making it safer for future generations.