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Laboratory-Scale Reuse of Glass/ITO Substrates for Single Junction Perovskite Solar Cells
Suzana Kralj1, Ivaylo Lazarov1, Rachel Woods-Robinson2,3,4
1MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede 7500 AE, The Netherlands.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed an eco-friendly method to recycle indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates for perovskite solar cells. Reusing these substrates reduces environmental impact and maintains high solar cell efficiency, promoting circularity in research.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Energy
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Perovskite solar cell research rapidly consumes indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates.
- Indium scarcity and price volatility necessitate sustainable recycling and reuse strategies.
- Current lab-scale production generates substantial waste from single-use substrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a simple, environmentally friendly method for reusing glass/ITO substrates in laboratory settings.
- To assess the environmental impact of the proposed recycling method using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
- To evaluate the performance of perovskite solar cells fabricated on reused substrates.
Main Methods:
- A lab-scale recycling procedure using acetone and standard cleaning, avoiding toxic solvents.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify environmental impact, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions.
- Fabrication and efficiency testing of perovskite solar cells on reused glass/ITO substrates over multiple cycles.
Main Results:
- The recycling method is simple, environmentally friendly, and avoids toxic solvents.
- Total cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions are 10-30% lower than for fresh glass/ITO substrates.
- Reuse with solvent recovery can reduce emissions by over 50% compared to single-use.
- Perovskite solar cells on reused substrates achieve efficiencies of ~18%, comparable to fresh substrates, even after three cycles.
Conclusions:
- ITO substrate reuse is a practical strategy for reducing the environmental footprint of solar cell research.
- The developed method promotes resource efficiency and material circularity in laboratory environments.
- Sustainable practices in materials recycling are crucial for advancing renewable energy technologies.
