Making Electronics More Environmental Friendly
Electronic waste can leech toxic heavy metals into ground water
For all their benefits, consumer electronics are notoriously dirty containing numerous heavy metal compounds. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)–a pezoelectric ceramic–is the material of choice for transducers, actuators, and microelectronic sensors. Unfortunately, PZT also has lead in it. Fortunately a team from the University of Maryland has discovered a cleaner replacement for PZT, bismuth samarium ferrite (BSFO). From an article covering the discovery on Network World:
University of Maryland researchers say BSFO can operate at higher temperatures and is easier to make than other proposed lead-free alternatives, making it a good candidate for a PZT replacement.
Products that use the new compound could hit the market in about five years, according to the university, after large-scale testing takes place, industry awareness and demand happens, and a method for mass production is created.
-Ben Connor Barrie
