Perovskite photovoltaics: life-cycle assessment of energy and environmental impacts

Gong, Jian; Darling, Seth B.; You, Fengqi

doi:10.1039/c5ee00615e

Cited by 487 publications

(517 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The cumulative energy demand of a product is therefore the addition of the aforementioned forms of primary energy as adopted in many LCA studies. [58][59][60][61][62] Accordingly, all the inputs in cumulative energy demand were summed up to derive the consumption of a material based on natural resources including fossil, solar, nuclear, geothermal, wind, primary forest, water and biomass. 57 The current work adopts an integrated hybrid LCA approach which overcomes boundary limitations of a process approach, by combining the process LCA inventories and Environmental Input-Output (EIO) data, 29,31,35 to evaluate the environmental profile of a laboratory-based PZT versus KNN piezoelectric materials.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrated hybrid life cycle assessment and supply chain environmental profile evaluations of lead-based (lead zirconate titanate) versus lead-free (potassium sodium niobate) piezoelectric ceramics

Ibn‐Mohammed

Koh

Reaney

et al. 2016

Energy Environ. Sci.

124

152

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The increasing awareness of the environmental and health threats of lead as well as environmental legislation, both in the EU and around the world targeted at decreasing the use of hazardous substances in electrical appliances and products has reinvigorated the race to develop lead-free alternatives to lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which presently dominates the market for piezoelectric materials. Emphasis has been placed on one of the most likely piezoelectric materials, potassium sodium niobate (KNN), as a lead-free replacement for PZT. KNN has been speculated to have better environmental credentials and is considered as a "greener" replacement to PZT. However, a comparative environmental impact assessment of the life cycle phases of KNN versus PZT piezoelectric materials has not been carried out. Such a life cycle assessment is crucial before any valid claims of "greenness" or environmental viability of one material over the other can be made and is the focus of this paper. Against this backdrop, a methodologically robust life cycle supply chain assessment based on integrated hybrid life cycle framework is undertaken within the context of the two piezoelectric materials. Results show that the presence of niobium in KNN constitutes far greater impact across all the 16 categories considered in comparison with PZT. The increased environmental impact of KNN occurs in the early stages of the LCA due to raw material extraction and processing. As a result, the environmental damage has already occurred before its use in piezoelectric applications during which it doesn't constitute any threat. As such, the use of the term "environmentally friendly" for the description of KNN should be avoided. Cost-benefit analysis of substituting PZT with KNN also indicates that the initial cost of conversion to KNN is greater, especially for energy usage during production. This environmental assessment has allowed us to define and address environmental health and safety as well as sustainability issues that are essential for future development of these materials. Overall, this work demonstrates insightful findings that can be garnered through the application of life cycle assessment and supply chain management to a strategic engineering question which allows industries and policy makers to make informed decisions regarding the environmental consequences of substitute materials, designs, fabrication processes and usage. IntroductionIn recent times, there has been a drive to develop new piezoelectric materials for a wide range of applications with properties comparable with lead zirconate titanate (Pb (Zr, Ti) O 3 , PZT). One main driver has been the growing awareness of the environmental impact and health concerns due to the toxicity of lead [1][2][3][4][5][6] which has led to existing environmental legislations and restrictions both in the EU and across the globe under the auspices of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives which concern the reduction of the...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated hybrid life cycle assessment and supply chain environmental profile evaluations of lead-based (lead zirconate titanate) versus lead-free (potassium sodium niobate) piezoelectric ceramics

Ibn‐Mohammed

Koh

Reaney

et al. 2016

Energy Environ. Sci.

124

152

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“…[203] Finally, low temperature processed ETLs, such as PCBM or alternative TiO 2 fabrication techniques, can be employed to reduce energy consumption in this step. [283][284][285] …”

Section: Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recycling of individual parts of PSC, as shown by Binek et al, can serve as an effective strategy to reduce energy-intensive steps that are especially needed for the electrodes. [283] As mentioned before, new HTMs can be developed, not only to reduce costs, but also to limit environmental impact. [203] Finally, low temperature processed ETLs, such as PCBM or alternative TiO 2 fabrication techniques, can be employed to reduce energy consumption in this step.…”

Section: Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing the Sun: A Review of the Challenges and Perspectives of Perovskite Solar Cells

Petrus

Schlipf

Cheng

et al. 2017

Advanced Energy Materials

312

201

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following statement: These materials can be processed from solution and yet exhibit optoelectronic materials properties described in classic solid-state physics textbooks. This unprecedented combination has led to photovoltaic devices that can be processed at room temperature and achieve performance levels similar to industry giant polycrystalline silicon, from a starting point of 3.8% in 2009. [1][2][3][4] The first light-emitting electrochemical cells [5] and diodes [6][7][8] have also been introduced recently, leading to tunable light emission spectra and internal quantum efficiencies exceeding 15%.The road towards these achievements has been marked by a constant improvement of perovskite deposition techniques fueled by our increasing understanding of the crystallization processes. The choice of deposition technique, either from solution or vapor, and the composition and order in which precursor species are applied has a great influence on the crystallization kinetics. Here, one can distinguish one-step methods where the perovskite is formed from a precursor mixture dissolved in a common solution, and two-step methods where the inorganic compound is deposited first and transformed to the perovskite phase later by addition of the organic constituents. [9][10][11] Furthermore, many parameters during processing can have an effect on the crystallization mechanism and consequently on film morphology, such as the choice of solvents, concentrations and processing additives that are often not incorporated into the final product. [11][12][13] We discuss this aspect in Section 2, where we focus our attention on the most commonly employed solution-based techniques. Additionally, as for any new technology trying to displace an incumbent technology, higher efficiencies, lower costs, reproducibility, stability, and sustainability are paramount. In particular, reproducibility has been a major challenge in perovskite solar cells from the beginning: small variations in morphology, like crystal size, film roughness, and pinholes can have detrimental effects on photovoltaic performance. [14] On the other hand, current-voltage measurements often showed a hysteresis that is rarely seen in other photovoltaic technologies. [15] These topics are highlighted in Sections 3 and 4. Finally, in Section 5 we discuss the framework for market introduction, such as cost reduction by choosing low-cost charge transport layers, or how the lifetime of perovskite absorbers can be extended by the choice of materials composition.Hybrid metal halide perovskites have become one of the hottest topics in optoelectronic materials research in recent years. Not only have they surpassed everyone's expectations and achieved similar performance as tried and true polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic devices, but they are also finding applications in a variety of different fields, including lighting. The main advantages of hybrid metal halide perovskites are simple processability, compatible with large-scale solution processing such as roll-to-roll printing, a...

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“…[25][26][27][28][29] Recently, a comparison of PSCs with silicon solar cells and a tandem with both perovskite and silicon was implemented. 30 Furthermore, the four most common methods to produce PSCs were environmentally revised by us.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of multiple cation/anion perovskite solar cells through life cycle assessment

Alberola-Borràs

Vidal

Mora‐Seró

2018

Sustainable Energy Fuels

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After the great initiation of perovskite as a photovoltaic material, laboratory efficiencies similar to other photovoltaic technologies already commercialised have been reached. Consequently, recent research interests on perovskite solar cells try to address the stability improvement as well as make its industrialisation possible. Record efficiencies in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been achieved using as active material a multiple cation/anion perovskite by combining methylammonium (MA) and formamidinium (FA), but also Cs cation and I and Br as anions, materials that also have demonstrated a superior stability. Herein, the environmental performance of the production of such perovskite films was evaluated via life cycle assessment. Our study points out that multiple cation/anion perovskite films show major detrimental environmental impacts for all categories assessed, except for abiotic depletion potential, when they are compared with a canonical perovskite MAPbI 3 . In addition, a closer analysis of the materials utilised for the synthesis of the different multiple cation perovskites compositions revealed that lead halide reagents and chlorobenzene were the most adverse compounds in terms of impact. However, the former is used in all the perovskite compositions and the later can be avoided by the use of alternative fabrication methods to anti-solvent. To this extent, FAI, with the current synthesis procedures, is the most determining compound as it increases significantly the impacts and the cost in comparison with MAI. A further economic analysis, exposed that multiple cation perovskites need a significantly higher photoconversion efficiency to produce the same payback times than canonical perovskite.2

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Perovskite photovoltaics: life-cycle assessment of energy and environmental impacts

Abstract: Life cycle assessment of perovskite photovoltaics provides comprehensive insights into diverse environmental impacts and possible improvements in manufacturing sustainable devices.

Cited by 487 publications

References 55 publications

Integrated hybrid life cycle assessment and supply chain environmental profile evaluations of lead-based (lead zirconate titanate) versus lead-free (potassium sodium niobate) piezoelectric ceramics

Integrated hybrid life cycle assessment and supply chain environmental profile evaluations of lead-based (lead zirconate titanate) versus lead-free (potassium sodium niobate) piezoelectric ceramics

Capturing the Sun: A Review of the Challenges and Perspectives of Perovskite Solar Cells

Evaluation of multiple cation/anion perovskite solar cells through life cycle assessment

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