Flash separation and recovery of each component from waste photovoltaic modules

Abstract

The recycling of end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic modules represents the final step in the photovoltaic industry chain. A critical prerequisite for component separation and recovery is the delamination of the solar panel layers. However, conventional interlayer separation techniques—such as pyrolysis and wet swelling—are slow, produce toxic gases or liquid waste, and hinder the reuse of organic materials. In this study, we present a rapid delamination strategy for recycling EoL photovoltaic modules, enabling the direct recovery of components including solar cells, glass, fluorine-containing backsheets, and ethylene–vinyl acetate film. This approach leverages the varying thermal expansion properties of each panel layer. Electrothermal pulses are used to induce flash heating and cooling, resulting in dramatic expansion and contraction that facilitates efficient delamination. Compared with pyrolysis and wet methods, the electrothermal pulse enables rapid module recovery within just 1 s. This accelerated delamination process significantly minimizes the pyrolysis of organic materials and allows for the direct separation of plastic backboards and ethylene–vinyl acetate films. As a result, emissions of fluorine-containing waste are reduced, and the recycling of organic plastic waste is facilitated. The recovery ratio of valuable components from EoL modules exceeds 98%. The successful application of this method presents a feasible strategy for the green and economically efficient recycling of EoL photovoltaic devices.