Why in the News?
Recent advancements in recycling perovskite solar cells have led to a new water-based solution, offering a more sustainable and efficient approach to solar energy production.
About Perovskite Solar Cells:
- Perovskite solar cells are made using a perovskite crystal structure, offering high power conversion efficiencies and low manufacturing costs compared to traditional silicon-based panels.
- They are lightweight, flexible, and made from inexpensive materials, making them a promising alternative in the solar energy market.
- While efficient, they have a shorter lifespan and contain toxic materials like lead, posing environmental risks during disposal.
- Used in solar power generation, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems due to their affordability and performance.
The New Recycling Method:
- Researchers have developed a water-based recycling solution, replacing harmful organic solvents with a non-toxic approach.
- The process uses three salts: sodium acetate, sodium iodide, and hypophosphorous acid, to dissolve and regenerate perovskite crystals, recovering high-quality material for reuse.
- This method maintains nearly the same efficiency as fresh materials, even after five rounds of recycling, recovering 99% of the layers.
- It promotes a circular economy, reducing waste and supporting the environmentally friendly recycling of perovskite solar cells.
| [UPSC 2014] With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements:
1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direction conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process. 2. Photovoltaics generate Alternating Current (AC), while solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC). 3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None |
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