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<p>Efficient recycling of end-of-life crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells is critical for recovering valuable resources and mitigating environmental burdens. In this study, a three-step purification route suitable for fragmented wafers generated during module decommissioning is proposed. The process consists of (i) removal of the rear Al electrode using 4&#xa0;mol/L KOH, (ii) removal of front Ag electrode using 8&#xa0;mol/L HNO<sub>3</sub> at 20°C for 5&#xa0;min, and (iii) CaO–SiO<sub>2</sub>–MgO slag refining to eliminate the SiN<sub>x</sub> antireflection layer and improve Si purity. KOH treatment induces delamination of the rear Al electrode in the form of a continuous film, enabling efficient separation and recovery. Subsequent HNO<sub>3</sub> treatment removes approximately 99% of the Ag electrode, thereby exposing the underlying Si substrate. During slag refining, residual metallic impurities and SiN<sub>x</sub> are preferentially transferred into the slag phase, producing a clean and smooth Si surface. <i>In situ</i> high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (HT-CLSM) directly captures melt evolution and phase separation during the refining process. Overall, the proposed route offers an effective and scalable approach for early-stage Si purification and high-value recycling of fragmented c-Si solar cells. However, the present study is limited to laboratory-scale experiments, and further scale-up and long-term process evaluation are required to verify the industrial applicability and economic feasibility.</p>

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Recycling of Waste Si Solar Cells: Electrode Separation and Si Recovery

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月6日

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  • Hongjia Zhang,
  • Hongzheng Cai,
  • Yaqiong Li,
  • Xiaodong Ma,
  • Lifeng Zhang

摘要

Efficient recycling of end-of-life crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells is critical for recovering valuable resources and mitigating environmental burdens. In this study, a three-step purification route suitable for fragmented wafers generated during module decommissioning is proposed. The process consists of (i) removal of the rear Al electrode using 4 mol/L KOH, (ii) removal of front Ag electrode using 8 mol/L HNO3 at 20°C for 5 min, and (iii) CaO–SiO2–MgO slag refining to eliminate the SiNx antireflection layer and improve Si purity. KOH treatment induces delamination of the rear Al electrode in the form of a continuous film, enabling efficient separation and recovery. Subsequent HNO3 treatment removes approximately 99% of the Ag electrode, thereby exposing the underlying Si substrate. During slag refining, residual metallic impurities and SiNx are preferentially transferred into the slag phase, producing a clean and smooth Si surface. In situ high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (HT-CLSM) directly captures melt evolution and phase separation during the refining process. Overall, the proposed route offers an effective and scalable approach for early-stage Si purification and high-value recycling of fragmented c-Si solar cells. However, the present study is limited to laboratory-scale experiments, and further scale-up and long-term process evaluation are required to verify the industrial applicability and economic feasibility.