The toxicity of lead in perovskite solar panels (PSCs) can be mitigated through several key strategies focused on preventing lead leakage and developing safer materials:
Encapsulation to Prevent Lead Leakage
- The most direct and effective strategy to inhibit lead leakage from PSCs is the use of appropriate encapsulation materials and methods. For example, encapsulation with films that have high mechanical strength and self-healing properties, such as elastomer (ER) films, can significantly reduce the release of lead from damaged solar cells.
- Additionally, innovative physical barriers like transparent titanium dioxide (TiO2) sponges have been developed to trap lead within the device structure without compromising efficiency, especially for building-integrated photovoltaics and agrivoltaics where environmental risks are critical.
- Other physical encapsulations combine robust materials that trap or absorb lead, preventing environmental contamination even if the solar panel is broken.
Lead Recycling and Confinement Technologies
- Alongside encapsulation, recycling technologies for recovering lead from end-of-life PSCs are important for sustainable management and reducing toxic effects over the device lifecycle.
- Research is exploring methods to confine lead within the solar cells during use, minimizing any potential leakage during operations or disposal.
Development of Lead-Free Alternatives
- While lead-based perovskites offer high efficiency and low production costs, there is a significant push to develop lead-free perovskite materials using elements such as tin, germanium, antimony, bismuth, or their combinations. This includes halide double perovskites, chalcogenide perovskites, and metal-free organic perovskites, aiming for comparable performance with less toxicity.
- However, complete replacement of lead requires further research and time, so mitigating toxicity in lead-based cells remains critical for near-term applications.
Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
- Efforts to reduce toxicity also include fabricating PSCs without toxic solvents during production, which helps minimize environmental impact and workplace hazards associated with manufacturing.
Summary Table of Toxicity Mitigation Strategies
| Strategy | Description | Example/Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulation | Use of strong, self-healing films or TiO2 sponges to trap lead | Reduced lead leakage, maintains device efficiency |
| Lead Recycling & Confinement | Recovery and containment of lead from end-of-life or operation | Minimizes environmental contamination |
| Lead-Free Materials | Alternatives including tin, germanium, bismuth-based perovskites | Lower toxicity, potential for sustainable commercial use |
| Sustainable Manufacturing | Avoiding toxic solvents in fabrication | Safer production, reduced environmental impact |
These combined approaches—physical barriers, lead confinement and recycling, material innovation, and greener fabrication—represent the current best practices to mitigate lead toxicity risks associated with perovskite solar panels while maintaining their efficiency and scalability.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-can-the-toxicity-of-lead-in-perovskite-solar-panels-be-mitigated/
