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As the use of electronic devices continues to rise, the management of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a critical issue. Printed circuit board (PCB) recycling methods are generally classified into physical and chemical approaches.

Physical recycling involves mechanical disassembly and separation, while chemical recycling relies on hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy. However, these methods are expensive and often cause pollution. Laser technology offers a new, environmentally friendly, and efficient approach for recovering metals from PCBs.

Non-invasive glucose monitoring is crucial for managing diabetes. Sweat contains glucose and other biomarkers, and detecting glucose concentration in sweat using electrochemical sensors has become a research focus. Among these, non-enzymatic glucose sensors are gaining attention due to their low cost and stability.

Copper oxide (Cu x O) is an ideal material for fabricating non-enzymatic glucose sensors because of its biocompatibility and high sensitivity to glucose. Traditional methods for preparing copper oxide electrodes are often complex, time-consuming, and require hazardous chemicals. In contrast, laser-induced processes provide a more eco-friendly, rapid, and scalable approach to fabricating copper-based electrodes.

To tackle the dual challenges of e-waste and diabetes, Guijun Li and colleagues at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology proposed a laser-induced transfer method that repurposes copper from e-waste to fabricate portable glucose sensor electrodes. They employed a fast, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and scalable laser-induced transfer technique to prepare h-Cu x O electrodes from discarded PCBs.

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