Electronic devices in a snowy mountainous environment

Sustainable Electronics Research

Sustainable Devices: Electronics, Photonics, and Packaging

We manufacture and design sustainable photonic and electronic assemblies using a variety of State-of-the-art additive manufacturing and cleanroom processes.

Electronics devices are designed for recyclability, reliability and sustainability using less hazardous materials. We also research methods to improve the recycling of electronics, and undertake detailed life-cycle assessment (LCA) of electronic systems.

We have a number of projects with industrial clients developing new semiconductor packaging approaches and improving the reliability and longevity of electronic devices and systems

Green RF-Enabled & Flexible Electronics

Researching radio frequency and microwave-enabled sustainable and flexible electronics. Our work spans

  • RF wireless power transfer (WPT) and energy harvesting.
  • Next-generation RF/RFID sensing devices.
  • Integrating advanced materials in RF to mmWave applications.
  • Wearable, e-textile, and implantable applications. 

"Green" covers aspects from low-waste and sustainable manufacturing, to electronics co-designed with sustainability (LCA) and manufacturing considerations. 

Contact: Mahmoud Wagih

More information at GREENElectronicsLab.org

Equipment, Facilities, and Labs

We have a range of state-of-the-art additive and sustainable electronics manufacturing and characterisation facilities.

  • Direct-write printing with micron-scale resolution (XTPL, SIJ, Botfactory, and Voltera)
  • Advanced 3D printing (FDM, SLA, and electronics-specific)
  • Screen printing (semi-automated and bespoke fully automated)
  • High-resolution laser patterning (LPKF)
  • Wire-bonding, flip-chip bonding, and die backend processing. 

Selected Sustainable Electronics Projects:

(In chronological order; non-exhaustive list)

EPSRC / UKRI:

  • EPSRC, EP/Y002008/1 "EDIBLES: Environmentally Driven Body-Scale Electromagnetic Co-Sensing", (£165k), PI: Mahmoud Wagih
  • EPSRC, EP/W025752/1, "Dielectrophoretic roll system for high performance electronics using contactless selective assembly of nanostructures on large areas," PI: Hadi Heidari; Co-I: Jeff Kettle, Mahmoud Wagih, Morteza Amjadi, and David Cumming
  • EPSRC, EP/W019248/1 “Green Energy-Optimised Printed ICs”, (£1.2m), PI: Jeff Kettle, Co-I: Hadi Heidari; David Cumming.
  • EPSRC, EP/W018623/1, “Technology critical metal recycling using ultrasonics and catalytic etchants,” co-I, (£970k)

EU:

  • CHIST-ERA/EPSRC, EP/W035790/1 "Transient Electronics for Sustainable ICT in DigitaL Agriculture". PI: Jeff Kettle
  • Horizon Europe "APOLLO", PI: Jeff Kettle, Co-I: Andrew Feeney, Paul Prentice and David Flynn, (£510k)

EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs):

  • "Mass-Manufacturable Biodegradable Microwave Systems for Next-Generation Sustainable Wireless PCBs (BioWaveS)" (£45k). PI: Mahmoud Wagih; CoI: Jeff Kettle.
  • “Sustainable Electronics" (£25k). PI: Jeff Kettle.
  • "RF-PowerEd Maintenance-Free SensIng in ENergy-Deprived EnviRonments (REMINDER)" (£38k). PI: Mahmoud Wagih. Underpinning the spin-out RX WaTT Limited.

Fellowships and Other Grants:

  • "Sustainable Sensing and Transduction using Microwave Scattering (STEMS)" (£70k) Royal Society Research Grants
  • "Radio Frequency-Enabled Multi-Source Energy Harvesting in Inaccessible Locations" (£200k) UK IC Research Fellowship, Royal Academy of Engineering | Government Office for Science. PI: Mahmoud Wagih

 

Selected External Project Partners: 

  • ARM Ltd;
  • CENSIS;
  • Denchi Power Ltd;
  • Inseto (UK);
  • Kelvin Nanotechnology;
  • Pragmatic Semiconductor Limited;
  • Printed Electronics ltd;
  • JIVA materials;
  • Nano Dimension;
  • WEEE Scotland
  • Clas-SiC
  • National Physical Laboratory (NPL);
  • Quantum Science Ltd;
  • Scotland 5G Centre;
  • Vector Photonics.
  • Alter Technology