The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

The exponential growth of soft electronics demands a critical re-evaluation of its environmental impact. Reliance on petrochemical polymers drives carbon emissions, while complex architectures hinder recycling. Addressing this requires bio-derived materials for closed-loop circularity. Herein, we propose a design protocol enabling scalable chemical recycling via a one-pot separation technique. The device integrates a bio-based lipoic acid-derived elastomer and gelatin hydrogel with liquid metal and MXene. At end-of-life (EoL), immersion in a specific recovery solution ensures full disassembly. This process preserves intrinsic material properties, facilitating high-yield recovery of raw materials and solvents. Reclaimed materials are subsequently repurposed to fabricate new devices with performance metrics equivalent to their pristine counterparts. This approach establishes a new paradigm for recycling multi-component products, strictly adhering to sustainable design principles.