Chemical, thermal and laser processes in recycling of photovoltaic silicon solar cells and modules

Abstract

In recent years, photovoltaic power generation systems have been gaining unprecedented attention as an environmentally beneficial method to solve the energy problem. From the economic point of view the pure silicon, which can be recapture from the used cells, is the most important material due to its cost and shortage. In the paper selected methods of used or damaged module and cells recycling and experimental results are presented. Advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are described, what could be helpful during the optimization of the method. The recycling process of PV module consists of two main steps: separation of cells and its refining. During the first step cells are separated due to the thermal or chemical methods usage. Next, the separated cells are refining. During this process useless layers are removed: antireflection, metallization and p-n junction layer, for silicon base - ready to the next use - gaining. This refining step was realized with the use of chemical and laser treatment as well.

Full text

ECOLO GICAL CH EM ISTRY AND ENGI NEERING S
Vol. 17, No. 3 2010
Ewa RADZIEMSKA
1∗
, Piotr OSTROWSKI
1
, Adam CENIAN
2
and Mirosław SAWCZAK
2
CHEMICAL, THERMAL AND LASER PROCESSES
IN RECYCLING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SILICON SOLAR CELLS
AND MODULES
OBRÓBKA CHEMICZNA, TERMICZNA ORAZ LASEROWA
W RECYKLINGU OGNIW I MODUŁÓW FOTOWOLTAICZNYCH
Z KRYSTALICZNEGO KRZEMU
Abstract: In recent years, photovoltaic power generation systems have been gaining unprecedented attention as
an environmentally beneficial method to solve the energy problem. From the economic point of view the pure
silicon, which can be recapture from the used cells, is the most important material due to its cost and shortage.
In the paper selected methods of used or damaged module and cells recycling and experimental results are
presented. Advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are described, what could be helpful during the
optimization of the method. The recycling process of PV module consists of two main steps: separation of cells
and its refining. During the first step cells are separated due to the thermal or chemical methods usage. Next, the
separated cells are refining. During this process useless layers are removed: antireflection, metallization and p-n
junction layer, for silicon base - ready to the next use - gaining. This refining step was realized with the use of
chemical and laser treatment as well.
Keywords: recycling, solar energy, silicon, photovoltaic solar cells, renewable energy
Production of photovoltaic modules on a commercial scale dates back to 1980’s. PV
module manufacturers provide a work warranty of 20-30 years, so modules produced back
in the 1980’s should be put out of commission and recycled during this decade, while
modules manufactured in 2000 should be recycled by 2030. A particularly difficult task is
developing an optimal technology of recycling and covering its high investment costs. This
question is especially interesting because of the market’s demand on silicon for PV cell
production and - consequently - the need for its recycling.
This paper covers selected methods of recycling used or destroyed PV modules and
photovoltaic cells and practical experiments results with chemical, thermal and laser
1
Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, ul. G. Narutowicza 11/12, PL-80-233 Gdańsk, Poland,
tel. +48 58 347 18 74
2
Institute of Fluid- Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Science, ul. Fiszera 14, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland,
∗
Corresponding Author: ewa.klugmann-radziemska@pg.gda.pl

Ewa Radziemska, Piotr Ostrowski, Adam Cenian and Mirosław Sawczak
386
recycling methods. Advantages and disadvantages of these methods, helpful in optimizing
the recycling process for commercial use, were described.
PV recycling process requires two main stages:
- PV solar cell separation. In this process, cells that are part of the commercial PV
modules have been separated as a result of thermal or chemical processes;
- cleaning the surface of PV solar cells. In this process, silicon solar cells separated
from the PV modules underwent a process of purification, in which unwanted layers
were removed (antireflection layer, metallization and a p-n semiconductor) - it was
possible to recover the silicon substrate suitable for reuse. Stage surface cleaning of
silicon PV cells was carried out using chemical and laser techniques.
Separation of silicon solar cells from damaged or used PV modules
In PV module production process, a predetermined number of silicon cells is
hermetized with the use of such materials as EVA copolymer, Tedlar®, glass. The PV cell
hermetization aims to secure it from harmful effects of atmospheric conditions or from
mechanical damaging. EVA copolymer hermetiziation is done through covering both sides
of cells with the polymer, while Tedlar® is used only on the bottom surface. Additionally,
the front of a PV module is covered with glass (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Encapsulation of PV cells
In order to recycle silicon cells from damaged PV modules, it is required to introduce
the delamination process [1]. In this process, the EVA is removed and materials such as
glass, Tedlar, aluminum frame, steel, copper, and plastics are separated. Properties of the
EVA copolymer have been thoroughly analyzed in paper [2]. The delamination process was
conducted through two methods:
• Chemical treatment;
• Thermal treatment.
Chemical treatment in PV module recycling
As a result of the conducted chemical delamination with tetrahydrofurane (THF)
(Fig. 2) it was possible to separate the materials from a damaged PV module.

Chemical, thermal and laser processes in recycling of photovoltaic silicon solar cells and modules
387
Fig. 2. The process of the removing of PV cell encapsulation using THF
The efficiency of the used method of chemical treatment was insufficient. Too long
period of time needed for achieving satisfying results, in conjunction with a fairly high price
of the solvent used, does not justify the use of this method for commercial PV cell and
module recycling purposes. That is why, thermal treatment was proposed and investigated.
Thermal treatment in PV module recycling
In order to separate silicon photovoltaic cells from a damaged PV module, the module
was placed in a SiO
2
bed which then was heated, to increase its temperature in time (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3. The stand-up for the photovoltaic module lamination removing
In comparison to chemical treatment, the duriaton of the process is significantly
shorter, also the problem of spent solvent does not occur. However, a disadvantage of
thermal treatment is the emission of gas during EVA copolymer thermal degradation.

Ewa Radziemska, Piotr Ostrowski, Adam Cenian and Mirosław Sawczak
388
Nevertheless, this method, taking into account its simplicity and high efficiency, may be
used in commercial PV recycling installations.
Fig. 4. The process of thermal removing of PV module encapsulation
Conclusion
When comparing chemical treatment with thermal treatment, it was found that for the
delamination process, thermal treatment is a far more convenient method to use. With
a moderate energetic cost, it is possible to obtain better process effectiveness. On the other
hand, chemical treatment effectiveness is fairly low, the process lasts for a longer period of
time, which additionally decreases effectiveness. The price of chemical compounds used,
because of their type as well as their quantities, is high. Additional costs of waste solution
disposal must also be taken into account in case of chemical treatment.
Surface purification of PV modules
Another stage of PV cell and module recycling - after cell separation - is the recovery
of pure silicon. In order to extract the silicon base from exploited, obsolete or damaged PV
cells, two methods were introduced: chemical treatment and laser surface cleaning.
Chemical treatment of silicon-based PV cells
After separating the cells from PV modules, in order to recover pure silicon, different
layers of material, put on in the production process, must be removed in specific order:

Chemical, thermal and laser processes in recycling of photovoltaic silicon solar cells and modules
389
frontal metallization, bottom metallization, antireflective coating and n-p junction
connector. A chemical process of removing different layer, needed for recovering the
silicon bed, was designed (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5. Recovery of silicon base from the damaged PV cells
The main problem is choosing the proper composition of etching solutions, its
concentration and optimal process temperature.
The application of laser technique for PV cell surface purification
Two types of PV cells were chosen for experiments - the samples for unnecessary layer
removal originated from mono- and polycrystalline photovoltaic cells (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6. Selected samples for the surface cleaning with the use of laser
The experiments were carried out with the use of neodymium impulse laser
(wavelength λ = 1064 nm) Nd:YAG (Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet), frequency up to 120 Hz,
beam energy of 300 mJ per impulse, with 10 ns long impulses. It was possible to remove the
aluminum bottom metallization and the antireflective coating from the PV cells.
(Figs 7 and 8).

Ewa Radziemska, Piotr Ostrowski, Adam Cenian and Mirosław Sawczak
390
Fig. 7. Removing the ARC layer from PV cells using laser technology
Fig. 8. Removing the back metallization from the PV cells, using laser technology
When comparing the methods used, it was determined that chemical treatment is far
more advantageous. Because of the laser method’s high price and low effectiveness, it is
essential to further improve and optimize chemical methods of removing unwanted layers
from PV cells. An estimated time of removing layers with the use of laser method is about
1 min/cm
2
.
When utilizing chemical treatment, it is possible to purify the whole cell’s surface
during that time. For chemical purification, the following etching solutions may be applied:
HF/HNO
3
/H
2
O, H
2
SiF
6
/HNO
3
/ H
2
O or H
2
SiF
6
/HNO
3
/C
2
H
4
O
2
[3-5].
Conclusion
The reason for conducting experimental work described in this paper was the effort to
solve a more and more important problem of recycling obsolete, damaged or exploited PV
devices with a minimal impact on the environment and with acquiring ecologically as well
as economically worthy results.
The results of PV cell separation processes and unwanted layer removal processes, in
order to recover pure silicon, show that recycling of PV modules is possible.

Chemical, thermal and laser processes in recycling of photovoltaic silicon solar cells and modules
391
Separation of cells from damaged PV modules through chemical treatment is not
economically worthwhile, a far more better solution is to use thermal treatment. Also, the
implementation of laser techniques in unwanted layer removal stage, in comparison with
chemical treatment, is also disadvantageous. An optimal solution is to use thermal treatment
for cell separation and chemical treatment for removing the metallization, contacts,
antireflective coating and the n-p junction.
References
[1] Radziemska E. and Ostrowski P.: Recycling of silicon in the PV industry. Ecol. Technol., 2009, 17(2),
47-52.
[2] Czanderna A.W. and Pern F.J.: Encapsulation of PV Modules Using Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer as
a Pottant: A Critical Review. Solar Eng. Mater. Solar Cells, 1996, 43, 101-181.
[3] Radziemska E., Seramak T. and Ostrowski P.: Pure silicon recovering from photovoltaic modules. Adv.
Mater. Sci., 2008, 8(4), 28-34.
[4] Radziemska E., Ostrowski P. and Seramak T.: Chemical treatment of crystalline silicon solar cells as
a main stage of PV module recycling. Ecol. Chem. Eng. S, 2009, 16(3), 378- 387.
[5] Radziemska E. and Ostrowski P.: Chemical treatment of crystalline silicon solar cells as a method
of recovering pure silicon from photovoltaic modules, Renewab. Ener., 2010, 35(8), 1751-1759,
doi:10.1016/j.renene.2009.11.031
OBRÓBKA CHEMICZNA, TERMICZNA ORAZ LASEROWA W RECYKLINGU
OGNIW I MODUŁÓW FOTOWOLTAICZNYCH Z KRYSTALICZNEGO
KRZEMU
1
Wydział Chemiczny, Politechnika Gdańska
2
Instytut Maszyn Przepływowych, Polska Akademia Nauk
Abstrakt: W ostatnich latach systemy fotowoltaiczne stają się bardzo popularne na całym świecie jako korzystne
dla środowiska rozwiązanie problemów energetycznych. Zagadnienie zagospodarowania zużytych elementów
systemów fotowoltaicznych, których ilość w przyszłości może być znaczna, nie zostało do tej pory opracowane.
Konieczne jest znalezienie optymalnej metody recyklingu i ponownego wykorzystania wycofanych z użycia
elementów składowych systemów PV. W artykule przedstawiono wybrane sposoby prowadzenia recyklingu
zużytych lub uszkodzonych modułów i ogniw fotowoltaicznych oraz praktyczne wyniki prac eksperymentalnych
z wykorzystaniem metod: chemicznych, termicznych oraz techniki laserowej. Opisano wady i zalety stosowanych
technik, pomocne przy optymalizowaniu metody recyklingu dla zastosowań komercyjnych. Proces recyklingu
modułów PV wymaga zastosowania dwóch zasadniczych etapów: separacji ogniw PV i oczyszczania ich
powierzchni. W procesie separacji ogniwa - wchodzące w skład modułu PV - zostają rozdzielone w efekcie
zastosowania procesów termicznych lub chemicznych. W następnej fazie ogniwa poddaje się procesowi, w
którym usuwa się niepożądane warstwy: antyrefleksyjną, metalizację oraz złącze n-p, aby uzyskać podłoże
krzemowe, nadające się do powtórnego zastosowania. Etap oczyszczania powierzchni krzemowych ogniw PV
realizowano z zastosowaniem obróbki chemicznej oraz techniki laserowej.
Słowa kluczowe: ogniwa fotowoltaiczne, krzem, recykling, energia słoneczna, odnawialne źródła energii