Recycling lead and transparent conductors from perovskite solar modules

Chen, Bo; Fei, Chengbin; Chen, Shangshang; Gu, Hangyu; Xiao, Xun; Huang, Jinsong

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-26121-1

Title: Recycling lead and transparent conductors from perovskite solar modules

Journal Article · 05 October 2021 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26121-1 · OSTI ID:1824896

Chen, Bo; Fei, Chengbin;

; Gu, Hangyu;

;

Abstract Perovskite photovoltaics are gaining increasing common ground to partner with or compete with silicon photovoltaics to reduce cost of solar energy. However, a cost-effective waste management for toxic lead (Pb), which might determine the fate of this technology, has not been developed yet. Here, we report an end-of-life material management for perovskite solar modules to recycle toxic lead and valuable transparent conductors to protect the environment and create dramatic economic benefits from recycled materials. Lead is separated from decommissioned modules by weakly acidic cation exchange resin, which could be released as soluble Pb(NO ₃ ) ₂ followed by precipitation as PbI ₂ for reuse, with a recycling efficiency of 99.2%. Thermal delamination disassembles the encapsulated modules with intact transparent conductors and cover glasses. The refabricated devices based on recycled lead iodide and recycled transparent conductors show comparable performance as devices based on fresh raw materials. Cost analysis shows this recycling technology is economically attractive.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008749

OSTI ID:: 1824896

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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