Eco-sustainable magnetoresistive sensors towards disposable magnetoelectronics.

Abstract

This work presents a holistic integration of environmental sustainability and enhanced sensing performance throughout the full lifecycle of magnetoresistive sensors. Utilizing industry-scale screen-printing techniques combined with eco-friendly inks (formulated from engineered Fe/Fe₃O₄ core-shell magnetic microparticles, bioderived polymeric binders, and water solvent), the fabrication process avoids harsh treatments and hazardous chemicals. The resulting sensors, constructed entirely from naturally sourced materials, inherently exhibit biocompatibility, biodegradability, and environmentally benign recyclability. These properties collectively demonstrate key attributes for a sustainable life cycle. Through rational engineering of the Fe/Fe₃O₄ core-shell structure particles, two synergistic mechanisms are activated within the composite: spin-dependent hopping across Fe₃O₄ shell grain boundaries and in situ magnetic flux concentration induced by Fe cores, thereby yielding an order-of-magnitude enhancement in low-field sensitivity relative to sputtered Fe film and printed Fe₃O₄ particle-based counterparts, resulting in a higher magnetoresistance ratio at 10 mT relative to all printed magnetoresistive sensors reported previously. The convergence of eco-sustainability and high performance enables previously unattainable disposable magnetoelectronics, unlocking new opportunities for environmentally responsible and user-safe transient electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.