An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

Abstract

The treatment of photovoltaic (PV) waste is gaining traction the world over, with the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life, or damaged and out-of-spec polycrystalline silicon PV modules. These materials are a focus of recycling. However, the current recycling practices usually involve excessive damage to PV cells that could otherwise be reused if recovered undamaged. The ability to recover undamaged PV cells, capable of reuse, would serve to further reduce the carbon footprint and cost associated with PV module manufacturing. This study focuses on the recovery of silicon PV cells from end-of-life PV modules by application of an organic solvent method. Herein, recovery tests were carried out in which silicon PV cells were recovered with minimal damage with the application of hexane as solvent. X-ray diffraction and UV–vis spectrophotometry measurements were conducted post recovery of the PV cells. The results from this study shows that the recovery of PV cells from application of hexane as the solvent could be an eco-friendly and benign approach to purse towards a strategic pathway for extending the life of recycled PV modules.