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Scientists have devised a method to upcycle lithium-ion batteries and expired solar panels into new solar cells. The method recovers valuable materials from the waste and converts them into perovskite solar cells, which are cheaper and more efficient than silicon-based ones. This could reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste and boost the renewable energy sector.
Great to see. It's a step in the right direction.
@haritulsidas Nice to see. I was hoping for lithium recycling, but silicon is a fantastic start.
@haritulsidas This type of upcycling could help mitigate the environmental impact of manufacturing and installing solar cells, which many are selling as being somehow without drawbacks. Obviously though all this has to be combined with a rapid reduction in our demand for energy to avoid negating any gains achieved
"upcycle lithium-ion batteries and expired [silicon ] solar panels ...converts them into perovskite solar cells"
This doesn't make any sense, perovskite contains neither lithium nor silicon... and the story doesn't say that either...
OK. They're burning off the metals from silicon panels with acids to leave behind pure silicon crystal feedstock for the anodes of silicon-lithium batteries.