From Print to Soil: Superworm-Degradable Organic Electrochemical Transistors via PEDOT:PSS-Clay Composites

The growing use of disposable electronics has intensified concerns regarding end-of-life electronic waste, highlighting an urgent need for devices that balance high functionality with sustainability. Herein, we report disposable printed organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) featuring a worm-edible PEDOT:PSS-clay composite active layer. These devices are constructed entirely from components selected to reduce environmental burden: a chemically reinforced and hydrophobically modified paper substrate; printable electrodes derived from a cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-templated silver ink; and a PEDOT:PSS/montmorillonite (MMT) composite active layer that ensures both electrochemical performance and superworm-derived biodegradability. Despite the use of low-resolution printing and sustainable materials, the resultant OECT devices exhibit low-voltage but stable operation and decent electrical characteristics suitable for practical applications. Critically, we demonstrate that these fully integrated devices are edible at the device level and can be disposed of via superworm ingestion (Zophobas morio), providing a proof-of-concept insect-mediated disposal pathway that may reduce environmental burden without requiring device retrieval or industrial composting. This work establishes a potential insect-mediated disposal strategy using superworms for the design of sustainable printed bioelectronic systems.