Eco-design for dye solar cells: From hazardous waste to profitable recovery

Solar energy conversion using first row d-block metal coordination compound sensitizers and redox mediators

“…Upscaling to commercial needs demands significant changes to design, for example the development of flexible devices with polymer substrates for roll-to-roll manufacturing. The question of the recyclability of DSC components has been addressed in several recent reviews, 307–309 and the recovery of silver from silicon photovoltaics 310 is also relevant for the silver employed in electrical contacts in DSCs.…”

“… 309 While recycling of FTO or other transparent conducting oxide (TCO) glass from DSCs may be technically achievable, it is not perceived to be commercially viable in practice. 307 Bonomo and coworkers also comment on the sustainability associated with waste management. They also note that, based upon the quantities of materials used within a DSC, an assessment of sustainability factors should focus more on counter electrode and electrolyte materials than on dyes.…”

What is necessary to fill the technological gap to design sustainable dye-sensitized solar cells?

“…Miettunen and Santasalo-Aarnio provide an interesting overview of how DSSC devices can be recycled using common techniques employed for other technologies. 109 However, they do not provide any indication of reuse of device components or of methods that are tailored to DSSCs, e.g. washing of electrolyte or desorption of dye from the semiconductor.…”

“…Once the dye is separated from the photoanode, Ru can be recovered with existing techniques. 109 To date, ruthenium is a scarcely recycled material 119 and even if recycling is technically feasible in this context, it is still best to avoid its use.…”

Digital Eco-Design and Life Cycle Assessment—Key Elements in a Circular Economy: A Case Study of a Conventional Desk

“…Longo et al [29] performed a life cycle assessment of two possible configurations of sodium nickel chloride batteries to identify the most relevant environmental impact elements and set the path for future sustainable strategies for these products. Miettunen and Santasalo-Aarnio [30] analysed in depth the possible recycling of materials used in dye solar cells. Furthermore, using eco-design principles, they proposed substituting materials used in conventional cells, which cannot be recycled in an economically viable way, with recyclable materials that eliminate toxic gas emissions during the recycling process.…”