A team of chemical and electrical engineers at Newcastle University has developed a pioneering, reversible glue that could fundamentally change electronic waste (e-waste) recycling processes. Similar to traditional solder, the innovative material can join electrical components, but it can be debonded with a simple wash using a green solvent, offering a sustainable solution to an increasingly severe global crisis.
The global electronic waste crisis and its scale
Electronic waste is one of the most severe global problems today. Globally, 62 billion kilograms of e-waste are produced annually, which is approximately the combined weight of one million semi-detached houses. Currently, less than a quarter of this massive amount is recycled. Bassam Aljohani, first author of the study and a PhD student at Newcastle University’s School of Engineering, highlighted: “Electrically conductive adhesives have been around for a long time, and making them reversible provides the solution to a very real problem that urgently needs addressing.” A significant portion of electronic waste contains critical minerals mined in only a few, often politically unstable regions. The newly introduced glue could significantly contribute to saving these valuable raw materials.
Innovative, eco-friendly, and water-based technology
The main special feature of the new technology is its reversibility. While dismantling traditionally soldered components is complicated, components fixed with the new glue can be easily separated for reuse or recycling by washing them with a simple, eco-friendly solvent—such as acetone—or an alkaline solution.
The formulation is a “one-pot”, water-based glue. Unlike many commercial glues, it does not emit volatile organic solvent vapors, and there is no need to add a separate hardener. Despite this, the bond strength equals that of other water-based adhesives. The manufacturing process is similar to making paint, with the difference that silver particles are added to the mixture instead of pigments, providing the desired electrical conductivity. Although there are other conductive, silver-containing adhesives on the market, their bonds cannot be easily debonded. Another important property is that, unlike other water-based formulations, exposure to humid environments does not cause the bond to fail. The material adheres excellently to metals, plastics, and printed circuit boards (PCBs) alike.
Cost-efficiency and industrial perspectives
Mark Geoghegan, the project’s lead investigator and Roland Cookson Professor of Engineering Materials, pointed out the economic benefits of the material: “One of the reasons that conducting glues are rarely used is because silver is expensive and toxic in the environment. Being reversible, our glue means that the silver can be recovered and reused, which is important to keep costs down and the environment clean.”
Volker Pickert, Professor of Power Electronics and co-investigator of the project, added: although solder has the best conductivity, the most effective formulations contain lead. Companies must now ask themselves whether conductivity outweighs environmental considerations.
Dr. Ama Asiedu-Asante, a researcher in the team, emphasized that the problem is not just about solder. The electronics industry relies heavily on permanent joining methods (e.g., screws), which make automated recycling significantly more difficult. The new formulation simultaneously offers adequate performance and reversibility to support more sustainable electronics.
Scientific background, scalability, and funding
The significance of the invention is also supported by the publication of its related patent. According to co-author Dr. Adriana Sierra-Romero, this highlights the broader potential of the technology in creating sustainable, repairable, and reusable electronic systems. Professor Katarina Novakovic emphasized that the research team remains committed to advancing critical solutions against the unsustainable use of resources. Furthermore, the new glue is based on cheap materials and existing industrial processes (those for making paint), making it easily scalable.
The research was published in the scientific journal Advanced Electronic Materials. The work was funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Newcastle University is ranked 22nd in the UK and 64th globally in the QS World Rankings: Sustainability 2026 list.)
Sources and references used:
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Original press release: Reversible glue technology goes electric – Newcastle University
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Official scientific publication (DOI / Link to state-funded research): A. Aljohani et al., „An Electrically Conducting Water-based Reversible Adhesive.” Advanced Electronic Materials (2026): e00617. – https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202500617 (The research was partially funded by the UK government agency EPSRC).
