Life cycle assessment of recyclable all-carbon thin-film transistors for LCD displays: toward sustainable nano-enabled electronics

Display technologies are significant contributors to electronic waste and environmental impacts due to their complex material composition and energy-intensive production processes. This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of an innovative, nano-enabled, fully recyclable thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane based on carbon nanomaterials—carbon nanotubes (CNT), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and graphene—designed for use in LCD systems. Using a cradle-to-grave boundary and both midpoint and endpoint indicators, the environmental performance of this all-carbon recyclable electronics (ACRE) design is compared with conventional TFT-LCD technologies. The environmental impact of conventional TFT technology was used as a reference point. Results show that raw material production and energy use are the main drivers of environmental burden, particularly in categories like climate change, resource depletion, and toxicity. However, the ACRE design shows strong end-of-life benefits: the recyclability of the nanomaterials significantly reduces energy use and emissions. These findings highlight the potential of circular electronics to reduce environmental impacts and demonstrate how thoughtful material choices can make advanced technologies more sustainable without sacrificing performance.

Duke Scholars

Author Aaron D. Franklin Pierre R. Lamond Department of Electrical and Computer Engin ...

Author Nathan Bossa Civil and Environmental Engineering