Recycling of perovskite solar cells

Xinyi Lyu; Pu Hong; Meiyu Guo; Yuanyuan Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221

Recycling of perovskite solar cells

Xinyi Lyu
, Pu Hong
, Meiyu Guo^*
, Yuanyuan Zhou^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low-cost manufacturing but face challenges of lead management and limited operational lifetimes. This work reviews the material, device, and process characteristics that enable efficient recycling of PSCs. We summarize technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessments that demonstrate substantial reductions in cost and environmental impacts through multi-round material recovery and compare recycling pathways across device architectures and functional layers. We further discuss practical barriers to scaling laboratory methods to industrial systems, including solvent management and regulatory compliance, and highlight emerging strategies such as design for recycling, automation, and data-driven process optimization. These insights illustrate how closed-loop recycling can support the sustainable deployment of PSC technology and advance a circular photovoltaic economy.

Original language	English
Article number	102221
Journal	Joule
Volume	10
Issue number	1
Early online date	2 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221
Publication status	Published - 21 Jan 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

User-Defined Keywords

life-cycle assessment
perovskite solar cells
recycling

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10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221

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title = "Recycling of perovskite solar cells",

abstract = "Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low-cost manufacturing but face challenges of lead management and limited operational lifetimes. This work reviews the material, device, and process characteristics that enable efficient recycling of PSCs. We summarize technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessments that demonstrate substantial reductions in cost and environmental impacts through multi-round material recovery and compare recycling pathways across device architectures and functional layers. We further discuss practical barriers to scaling laboratory methods to industrial systems, including solvent management and regulatory compliance, and highlight emerging strategies such as design for recycling, automation, and data-driven process optimization. These insights illustrate how closed-loop recycling can support the sustainable deployment of PSC technology and advance a circular photovoltaic economy.",

keywords = "life-cycle assessment, perovskite solar cells, recycling",

author = "Xinyi Lyu and Pu Hong and Meiyu Guo and Yuanyuan Zhou",

note = "Funding information: Y.Z. acknowledges the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (grant no. 52222318) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the General Research Fund (grant nos. 12302822 and 12300923), the Collaborative Research Fund (grant no. C2001-23Y) from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), the NSFC/RGC Collaborative Research Scheme (grant no. CRS\_HKUST203/23), and the startup grant from the HKUST. Y.Z. acknowledges the support from the China Merchants Group, particularly China Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Inc.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221",

language = "English",

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AU - Lyu, Xinyi

AU - Hong, Pu

AU - Guo, Meiyu

AU - Zhou, Yuanyuan

N1 - Funding information: Y.Z. acknowledges the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (grant no. 52222318) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the General Research Fund (grant nos. 12302822 and 12300923), the Collaborative Research Fund (grant no. C2001-23Y) from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), the NSFC/RGC Collaborative Research Scheme (grant no. CRS_HKUST203/23), and the startup grant from the HKUST. Y.Z. acknowledges the support from the China Merchants Group, particularly China Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2026/1/21

Y1 - 2026/1/21

N2 - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low-cost manufacturing but face challenges of lead management and limited operational lifetimes. This work reviews the material, device, and process characteristics that enable efficient recycling of PSCs. We summarize technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessments that demonstrate substantial reductions in cost and environmental impacts through multi-round material recovery and compare recycling pathways across device architectures and functional layers. We further discuss practical barriers to scaling laboratory methods to industrial systems, including solvent management and regulatory compliance, and highlight emerging strategies such as design for recycling, automation, and data-driven process optimization. These insights illustrate how closed-loop recycling can support the sustainable deployment of PSC technology and advance a circular photovoltaic economy.

AB - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low-cost manufacturing but face challenges of lead management and limited operational lifetimes. This work reviews the material, device, and process characteristics that enable efficient recycling of PSCs. We summarize technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessments that demonstrate substantial reductions in cost and environmental impacts through multi-round material recovery and compare recycling pathways across device architectures and functional layers. We further discuss practical barriers to scaling laboratory methods to industrial systems, including solvent management and regulatory compliance, and highlight emerging strategies such as design for recycling, automation, and data-driven process optimization. These insights illustrate how closed-loop recycling can support the sustainable deployment of PSC technology and advance a circular photovoltaic economy.

KW - life-cycle assessment

KW - perovskite solar cells

KW - recycling

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025113498

U2 - 10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221

DO - 10.1016/j.joule.2025.102221

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:105025113498

SN - 2542-4351

VL - 10

JO - Joule

JF - Joule

IS - 1

M1 - 102221

ER -

Recycling of perovskite solar cells

Abstract

UN SDGs

User-Defined Keywords

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