Recycling Silicon Bottom Cells from End-of-Life Perovskite–Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite–silicon tandem cells have shown much higher efficiencies than single-junction cells, which promises further reduction of energy cost from photovoltaics. Due to the protection by perovskites, silicon subcells in perovskite–silicon tandem cells may last much longer than those in single-junction devices. Herein, we report recycling silicon bottom cells from end-of-life perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells, which further reduces their cost and enhances the sustainability. We demonstrate that silicon bottom cells can be recycled from end-of-life tandem cells by thermal delamination and chemical cleaning processes. The optoelectronic properties of silicon bottom cells were shown to be largely unchanged in the end-of-life tandem cells. The efficiencies of tandem cells refurbished from recycled silicon bottom cells are comparable to those fabricated from fresh cells.