Repozytorium publikacji - Politechnika Gdańska

Crystalline silicon-type PV modules consist, in order of mass, of glass, an aluminium frame, an EVA coating, solar cells, a terminal box, back film and tapping screws. From the economic point of view, pure silicon, recoverable from spent cells, is the most important material owing to its cost and shortage. For crystalline, silicon-based PV cells, the following chemical treatments were performed: removal of the metal coating, followed by the removal of AR coating and p- n junction by etching.The standard acid etching mixtures contain high amounts of toxic nitrogen oxides, fluorides and different silicon species, whichrequire costly disposal measures. Moreover, autocatalysing reactivity effects complicate the controllability of these processes, which leads to losses of silicon and increased costs. The compositions of etching solutions were adjusted individually for different silicon cell types. Despite the efforts made to formulate a universal etching solution composition, the results showed that solutions need to be modified in accordance with the type of PV cells to be recycled.

Autorzy

• Piotr Ostrowski