Effective Recycling Method for Silicon Photovoltaic Modules with Electrical Sacrificial Layer

Several countries have shown interest in the development of methods for recycling photovoltaic (PV) modules because the number of end-of-life modules is expected to increase owing to the increasing use of PV modules. Generally, physical, chemical, and thermal (incineration) methods are used for separating glass from the PV module when the end-of-life modules are recycled. In the physical method, the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is cut using a heated knife or wire, whereas in the chemical method, the EVA is dissolved using chemicals. Among the treatment methods, the thermal method is widely used, wherein EVA is burned at high temperatures. In this article, a structure wherein a sacrificial layer is located between the front glass and EVA is proposed. Herein, a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin film was used as a sacrificial layer and was delaminated using transparent conductive oxide corrosion assisted by voltage and moisture in a thin-film solar cell, after which the front glass was easily separated from the EVA. The experiment proceeded by delaminating the FTO thin film deposited on the front glass and separating EVA from the front glass. Finally, after creating a minimodule structure, the front glass was released from the EVA.