The Linköping University researchers have developed a sustainable method to completely recycle Perovskit solar cells with water instead of toxic solvents. The recycled cells keep their original efficiency and take into account both the environment and technological concerns.
A study in published in Nature Linköping University researchers sets a new method for recycling solar cells without using environmentally endangered solvents. With this process, all components of a Perovskit solar cell can be recycled repeatedly and at the same time maintain the same efficiency as the original. In particular, water serves as a primary solvent in the recycling process.
If the electricity requirement increases – closed by the progress of the AI, the relocation of the electrified transport and other factors – strenuous energy sources must work together to prevent further climate change.
Solar energy has had great potential for a long time, and solar collectors have been on the market for over 30 years. But Silicon solar modules of the first generation are at the end of their life cycle, which caused an unexpected problem.
“There is currently no efficient technology to deal with the waste of silicon panels. That is why old solar collectors end up at the landfill. Huge mountains of electronic waste with which you cannot do anything, ”says Xun Xiao, Postdoc at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at Linköping University (Liu).
Feng GAO, professor of optoelectronics at the same department, adds: “We have to take into account recycling when developing new solar cell technologies. If we don't know how to recycle it, we may not bring it onto the market at all. “
Perovskit solar cells: the future of solar energy?
One of the most promising technologies for the next generation solar cells concerns Perovskit. They are not only relatively inexpensive and easily manufactured, but also light, flexible and transparent. Thanks to these properties, Perovskit solar cells can be placed on many different surfaces, also on windows. In addition, they can convert up to 25 percent of solar energy into electricity, which can be comparable to today's silicon solar cells.
“There are many companies that want to bring Perovskit solar cells to the market, but we want to avoid another landfill. In this project we developed a method in which all parts can be reused in a new Perovskit solar cell without impairing the performance in the new, ”says NISSHEG XU, Postdoc at Liu.
In view of the fact that Perovskit solar cells currently have a shorter lifespan than silicon solar cells, it is important that the recycling of Perovskit solar cells is efficient and environmentally friendly. Perovskit solar cells also contain a small amount of lead that is required for high efficiency. However, this also places great demands on a functioning recycling process.
In addition, there are also legal requirements for producers in large parts of the world to sustainably collect and recycle solar cells at the end of life.
There are already methods for reducing Perovskit solar cells. This mainly includes a substance that is used as dimethylformamide called dimethylformamide, a frequent ingredient in color solutions. It is toxic, environmentally happy and potentially carcinogenic. The Linköping researchers have now done it to develop a technology in which water can be used as a solvent to reduce the degraded perovskites. And what is more important that high -quality perovskite can be recycled from the water solution.
“We can recycle everything – glasses, electrodes, perovskits and also the load of transport layer,” says Xun Xiao.
The next step for the researchers is to develop the method for using larger use in an industrial process. In the long term, you believe that Perovskit solar cells can play an important role in providing energy in the environmental infrastructure and the supply chains.
Reference: “Aqueous-Based Recycling of Perovskite Photovoltaics” by Xun Xiao, Nansheng XU, XUEYU TIAN, TIANKAI ZHANG, Bingzheng Wang, Xiaoming Wang, Yeming Xian, Chunyuan LU, Xiangyu OU, Yanfa Yan, Licheng Sun, Fengqi You and feng Gao, February 12, 2025, Nature.
Two: 10.1038/S41586-024-08408-7