Research summary
Consumer electronics such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and Internet-connected appliances have changed the way we work, communicate and play. In many cases, they have also helped improve our quality of life. Unfortunately, they are also generating an increasing amount of toxic electrical and electronic waste. This is creating pressure on the environment and causing major health concerns.
Dr. Clara Santato, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Organic Electronics: Materials, Processes and Devices, aims to alleviate the environmental footprint of electronics. She and her research team are designing and developing electronic devices that use benign organic electronic materials. Ultimately, their research could influence the manufacturing, IT, green technology and biomedical sectors.