Researchers show how graphene oxide suspended in water biodegrades in a reaction catalyzed by a human enzyme, with the effectiveness of the breakdown dependent on the colloidal stability of the suspension. The study should guide the development of graphene-based biomedical applications.

Americans, on average, replace their mobile phones every 22 months, junking more than 150 million phones a year in the process. Now researchers are on the path to creating biodegradable electronics by using organic components in screen displays. The researchers’ advancements could one day help reduce electronic waste in the world’s landfills.