Graphene for Next Generation Green Electronics-A Sustainable Future

Abstract

The amount of e-waste or electronic waste is increasing worldwide due to the rapid development of the electronics industry and the profound usage of electronic products although it has enormous detrimental effects on the environment and humans. It has become an evolving problem due to a lack of knowledge and infrastructure for e-waste disposal and recovery. Researchers around the world are in search of environment-friendly, sustainable ‘green electronic’ material which has the least adverse effect on humans and the environment. Graphene is the most suitable example of this type. A two-dimensional array of sp2- hybridized carbon atoms organised in a hexagonal lattice, known as graphene, possesses a number of extraordinary qualities. In this article, the potential of graphene is discussed for a green electronics-based sustainable future. Graphene has already been used as next- generation eco-friendly devices in various forms like field effect transistors, biosensors, pressure sensors, supercapacitors, optoelectronic devices, etc. Still, there are certain challenges regarding the safety of graphene usage. It has a low toxic effect at higher concentration levels. Therefore, scientists all over the world are deeply interested to develop different techniques for the synthesis of ‘green graphene’. It can be synthesized from various waste products including e-wastes that can pave the way to a better, sustainable future by fabricating harmless, environment-friendly devices. Keywords: E-waste, green electronics, graphene, sustainable future.