Why Recycling Solar Panels Matters
Using solar energy is better for the environment than using fossil fuels, but making solar panels can still harm nature.
Most solar panels are made with silicon, which needs a lot of energy to produce and is hard to deal with after use.
A cheaper kind of solar panel made from perovskite crystals is becoming popular, but these have toxic materials like lead.
Also, recycling these perovskite panels has required the use of harmful chemicals, which is bad for the environment.
New Green Recycling Method
Scientists have now found a safer way to recycle perovskite solar panels using water instead of toxic chemicals.
They made a special water-based solution by adding salts like sodium acetate, sodium iodide, and hypophosphorous acid.
These ingredients help break down the used perovskite and form new, clean perovskite crystals.
This method removes the need for dangerous solvents and helps recycle the toxic lead safely.
Efficient and Reusable Components
The scientists also created new solutions using alcohol-based chemicals to dissolve other parts of the solar panel.
They were able to collect and reuse almost all parts of the solar panel, including glass and metal layers.
They built new solar panels using the recycled materials and found that the performance was almost as good as new ones.
Even after five times of recycling, the quality and efficiency stayed high.
What This Means for the Future
This green recycling method can help reduce waste and pollution from solar panel use.
It also supports the idea of a circular economy, where materials are reused instead of thrown away.
Experts say it’s important to study the full life cycle of solar panels to make sure they are truly eco-friendly.
This new method could help solve big environmental problems and make solar energy cleaner and cheaper in the long run.
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