Accepted at UIST25
With rising climate change and e-waste, BioLIG introduces a technique to functionalize bio-based materials through laser-induced graphene (LIG) into resistive sensors and simple conductive circuits for scalable prototyping. We present three precursors and two conductivity-enhancing inks made from renewable, easy-to-obtain biomaterials and accessible, affordable machines. Besides achieving electrical properties on-par with LIG on synthetic material, we improve BioLIG robustness by introducing water resistant and biodegradable coatings that protect from environmental factors. Lastly, we fabricate various end-to-end environmental sensors and simple circuits that combines BioLIG with off-the-shelf electronics. Each application also explores the material ‘life-cycle’ including multiple ways to separate electronic components and reuse the substrate, such as dissolving, blending and composting. This work aims to contribute to sustainable packaging and environmental sensing.