There are really mushrooms in the motherboard, and the researchers used fungi to make biodegradable PCB substrates.

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen OC_Formula for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com, November 20 (Xinhua)-- Australian company Myceliotronics is trying to solve the problem of e-waste through a creative biomaterial method that replaces the usual layered components in PCB with fungal hyphae, Tom's Hardware reported.

According to reports, the bright cover Ganoderma lucidum (a kind of mushroom) material has been proved to have qualities similar to PCB (such as heat resistance, flexibility and insulation) and is easier to decompose and recycle because of its biological origin.

In general, PCB substrates use rare minerals (such as copper and gold), epoxy resins and other chemical elements, and recycling is very difficult, usually resulting in chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Dr Martin Kaltenbrunner, of the University of Johnannes Kepler in Germany, said: "Electronic devices are irreversibly integrated into our lives, but their limited lifespan and often inappropriate disposal require sustainable concepts to achieve a green electronic future. Research must shift the focus to replacing non-degradable and difficult-to-recycle materials to make electronic devices biodegradable or easily recycled."

CTOnews.com learned that according to the researchers, the mycelium of the genus Ganoderma lucidum is such a material, which is thin and elastic while maintaining strong structural integrity. It can withstand about 2000 repeated bends and insulated current, and can withstand temperatures up to 250C, even higher than the top PCB components (usually rated at 150C). In addition, interestingly, the hyphae increase their heat resistance as they age.

In addition, the PCB substrate of mycelial material can be biodegraded by water or ultraviolet radiation, which seems to be more suitable for PCB of electronic devices, because traditional PCB generally does not encounter water and direct irradiation. Without contact with these two things, the PCB substrate of mycelial material can be used for hundreds of years.

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