According to the latest issue of Nature magazine, researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have developed a new method for recycling perovskite solar cells. This method primarily uses water as the solvent during the recycling process, eliminating the need for environmentally harmful solvents. It not only allows for the repeated recycling of all components of the cells but also ensures that the recycled cells have comparable efficiency to the original ones.
In the coming years, electricity consumption is expected to increase significantly. To reduce the impact on the climate, a variety of sustainable energy sources need to work together. Solar energy, as a renewable energy source, has great potential. Among them, perovskite solar cells are one of the most promising technologies for the next generation of solar cells. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and lightweight, flexible, and transparent. Due to these properties, perovskite solar cells can be installed on various surfaces such as rooftops and windows. Furthermore, they can convert up to 25% of solar energy into electricity, comparable to today’s silicon solar cells.
However, the lifespan of perovskite solar cells is currently shorter than that of silicon solar cells. Therefore, efficient and environmentally friendly recycling technologies for perovskite solar cells are crucial. Additionally, perovskite solar cells contain a small amount of lead, which is necessary for achieving high efficiency but also poses higher requirements for the effective operation of the recycling process.
Currently, the main method for dismantling perovskite solar cells uses a substance called dimethylformamide, a common component in paint solvents. Dimethylformamide is toxic, environmentally harmful, and potentially carcinogenic.
The new method developed by Linköping University researchers uses water as the solvent for dismantling perovskite solar cells, enabling the recovery of high-quality perovskite from aqueous solutions.
The researchers stated that they can recycle all components, including the cover plate, electrodes, perovskite layer, and charge transport layer.
Next, they plan to continue researching this method to promote its larger-scale application in industrial processes.
