Page 8 - IJAMD-1-2

International Journal of AI for
Materials and Design
Sustainable electronics using AI/ML

not only at present but also potentially for future 2019, valuable components such as iron, copper, and gold,
generations. The rise of electronics as an omnipresent which are estimated to be worth around US$ 57 billion,
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aspect of modern society has brought difficulties in were predominantly discarded or incinerated instead of
managing electronic waste (e-waste). Addressing the being collected for processing and reuse. In this regard,
necessity for zero-waste consumable electronics, research reusing and recycling valuable materials found in e-waste
has been geared toward transient electronics, developing can facilitate a circular economy by promoting the usage
electronic devices based on biodegradable materials. of secondary materials. However, the analysis shows
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Transient electronics is a burgeoning technology that that recycling and reuse alone may not be able to keep up
has the unique ability to physically dissolve in controlled with the e-waste figures and therefore the best alternative
ways within physiological contexts. However, to develop solution to this issue lies in the context of transient
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biodegradable electronics, it is necessary to explore new technology.
material classes with biodegradable substrates, insulators, Transient technology is an emerging area focusing
conductors, and semiconductors, which together make up on the development of materials, technologies, and
the basic components of devices. 4 systems that would disappear without leaving behind any
Conventionally, materials discovery and synthesis have noticeable or traceable remnants after a period of steady
been based on trial-and-error methods, which rely on the operation. Electronics possessing the ability to disintegrate
researcher’s insight, knowledge, and experience; wherein or vanish after consistent functioning are emerging as
the researchers would spend significant time and resources a captivating area of study and have garnered growing
conducting experiments and simulations based on their interest. Recently, there has been a noticeable expansion of
intuition and existing knowledge. However, this approach transient technology into areas like intelligent applications
often resulted in lengthy trial-and-error cycles and missed such as bioelectronics, environmental monitoring systems,
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opportunities for innovation. With artificial intelligence energy harvesters, and storage. For example, a soft, skin-
(AI), researchers can harness the power of machine interfaced microfluidic system capable of monitoring sweat
learning (ML) and data analytics to accelerate the discovery loss, sweat rate, pH, and chloride concentration using
process. By analyzing large datasets of materials properties, thermoplastic copolyester elastomer as a microfluidic layer
chemical compositions, and synthesis methods, AI can and a cellulose film as a sealing layer has been combined
identify patterns and relationships that might elude human to demonstrate applications in sweat biomarkers. Here,
intuition alone. Furthermore, AI enables the exploration the fabricated devices have been shown to fully degrade in
of vast design spaces and the optimization of material natural soil or composting facilities to organic compounds
properties through virtual simulations and predictive that can act as plant nutrients, thereby eliminating
modeling. This not only accelerates the discovery of new environmental stresses from discarded devices. On
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materials but also allows researchers to tailor materials the other hand, polylactic acid (PLA) has been reported
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properties for specific applications with greater precision in many medical applications including drug carriers,
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and efficiency. In this review, we consolidate the landscape scaffolds for tumor applications, and dental implants. The
of AI- and ML-based materials discovery, focusing on four PLA with magnesium composite demonstrates osteogenic
categories of representative materials including natural properties and promotes bone cell ingress (Figure 1). 10
polymers, synthetic polymers, metals, and semiconductors,
which form the cornerstone of any electronic device. 3. Functional biodegradable materials
2. Transient electronics Transient materials are able to consistently maintain their
complete functionality and capabilities under regular
The Global E-waste Monitor 2020, released by the Global usage, delivering reliable performance, while finally
E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), provides a thorough degrading at the end of life without leaving any potential
overview of the global e-waste problem. In 2019, a total harmful residues. On the introduction of a solution, the
of 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste, which refers to materials will undergo either complete physical or chemical
discarded electronic items that contain a battery or plug, dissolution in a controlled fashion, either partially or
such as computers and mobile phones, was generated entirely. This review focuses on discussing recent research
globally. Merely 17.4 % of e-waste was officially recorded on such transient materials including metals, polymers,
as being properly gathered and recycled in 2019. The new semiconductors, and dielectric materials.
analysis forecasts that global e-waste will reach 74 million
metric tons by 2030. This increase is driven by escalating 3.1. Metals
rates of electric and electronic consumption, shorter Conductive materials in electronics function as electrodes
product lifespan, and constrained alternatives for repair. In and connectors. Conventional metals are attractive in

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2024) 2 doi: 10.36922/ijamd.3173