How can plastic be recycled into electronic devices?

A new study reveals: The University of Delaware and Argonne National Laboratory have created a chemical process that transforms Styrofoam into the valuable conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS. The new method could integrate plastic waste into functional electronic devices such as solar cells and transistors. A research team led by UD assistant professor Laure Kayser developed the process through extensive experimentation and collaboration with Argonne chemist David Kaphan.

Their method involves sulfonating polystyrene, a common plastic, with a milder agent to achieve high sulfonation with minimal defects. This efficient process turns waste polystyrene into PEDOT:PSS, comparable in performance to commercial versions.

Specific tests and analyses were conducted at UD and Argonne, showing the environmentally friendly potential of this approach to create valuable electronic materials from plastic waste. The research also highlights the possibility of precisely controlling sulfonation levels, opening up applications in fuel cells and water filtration devices. The team intends to continue to investigate and refine this technique to advance global sustainability efforts.