Lead Management in Perovskite Photovoltaics: Status and Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency but contain lead-halide perovskites, posing environmental and health risks.
• Effective lead management is essential for the widespread adoption and sustainability of PSC technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in lead leakage mitigation strategies for PSCs.
• To critically assess current lead recycling technologies for efficiency, scalability, and environmental impact.
• To identify future research directions for sustainable lead management in perovskite photovoltaics.

Main Methods:

• Survey of recent literature on lead containment in PSCs.
• Analysis of fundamental mechanisms for lead adsorption, immobilization, and sequestration.
• Evaluation of lead recycling technologies based on efficiency, scalability, and environmental footprint.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in lead containment via material design, processing, device engineering, and recycling.
• Various strategies target perovskite absorbers, grain boundaries, interfaces, and encapsulation for lead mitigation.
• Current lead recycling methods show promise but require further optimization for industrial application.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive lead-management framework is vital for realizing the full potential of PSCs as a sustainable energy source.
• Continued innovation in lead mitigation and recycling is necessary to address environmental and health concerns.
• Future research should focus on developing cost-effective, scalable, and eco-friendly lead management solutions for PSCs.