Issue 11, 2023

Matrix-driven environmental fate and effects of silver nanowires during printed paper electronics end of life

Abstract

The release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) during manufacturing, use and disposal of nano-enabled products (NEPs) is a potential route of environmental nanopollution. To date, there is limited knowledge on the ecological impact of ENMs incorporated in NEP matrices and how they compare to pristine nanoparticles. Here, we examined the fate and effect of silver nanowires (AgNWs) embedded in a cellulose matrix for the production of printed paper electronics (PPE) (nano)technologies. The fate and impact of fragmented AgNWs-PPE was monitored for 21 days in freshwater mesocosms mimicking a pond ecosystem. The Ag release and AgNWs-PPE behavior in water was further characterized in abiotic batch incubations. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out to estimate the Ag partitioning between the environmental compartments and the aging of AgNWs-PPE as well as bioaccumulation and behavioral responses in biota. In contaminated pond mesocosms, the NEP cellulose/polyvinylidene chloride matrix resulted in rapid settling of the Ag on the sediments and prevented Ag release into the water column. The highest aqueous concentration measured corresponded to less than 0.5% of the total Ag introduced. The AgNWs-PPE fragments accumulated at the water sediment interface, where they were rapidly (bio)degraded and became bioavailable for benthic organisms. Aquatic snails accumulated a significant fraction of the Ag (1.4 ± 0.5%) and displayed enhanced burrowing behavior in comparison to controls. In batch experiments, alteration of the ENM morphology was evident at the NEP surface. Here, the colocalization of Ag and S clusters suggests aging via sulfidation, similar to other pristine Ag ENMs. However, the cellulose matrix prevented weathering of the AgNWs within the NEP, which presented a near-pristine state even after 21 days of incubation. Overall, these results indicate that the fate and impact of Ag embedded in the AgNWs-PPE were driven by the cellulose matrix. In particular, given the specific properties and behavior of paper-based (nano)products, these may constitute a unique category when evaluating NEP environmental impact. The data gathered in this study can help in defining the environmental fate of such materials and provide useful information to address future studies focused on ENM environmental fate and risk assessment in a life-cycle perspective.

Graphical abstract: Matrix-driven environmental fate and effects of silver nanowires during printed paper electronics end of life

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Apr 2023
Accepted
31 Aug 2023
First published
01 Sep 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2023,10, 3039-3050

Matrix-driven environmental fate and effects of silver nanowires during printed paper electronics end of life

A. Carboni, D. L. Slomberg, A. Ouaksel, L. Brousset, A. Campos, B. Angeletti, B. Zareeipolgardani, G. Depres, A. Thiéry, J. Rose, L. Charlet and M. Auffan, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2023, 10, 3039 DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00263B

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