Analysis of the Promising Thin Film Materials for Graphene — Based Solar Panels in Decarbonization and Circular Economy Processes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31649/1997-9266-2025-182-5-17-24Keywords:
graphene, thin-film solar panels, circular economy, decarbonization, photovoltaic waste, recyclingAbstract
The paper is devoted to a comparative analysis of the possibilities of recycling and utilization of two key technologies of solar power: conventional silicon panels, dominating the market, and advanced thin-film graphene-based ones. The analysis was conducted in the context of the transition to a circular economy and the rapid growth of photovoltaic waste volumes, which by 2030 may reach 78 million tons. The material composition of silicon panels was studied, which includes both valuable components (silicon, silver, aluminum) and toxic substances (lead, cadmium), which creates significant environmental risks during disposal. Existing mature technologies for their recycling are described - a combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical methods that allow recovering up to 80 % of materials with a potential of up to 99 %. It is emphasized that the economic feasibility of this process is supported by the high cost of secondary raw materials, and its development is stimulated by state regulatory policies, such as the WEEE Directive in the EU, in contrast to the lack of such a legislative framework in Ukraine. Graphene thin-film elements are presented as a promising alternative. Their fundamental advantage lies in the potential absence of toxic substances, since they are carbon-based. This can radically simplify, reduce the cost and make recycling processes safer, shifting the focus from hazardous waste management to the recovery of non-toxic materials. Although the technology is still at the research stage, innovations in reducing the cost of graphene production open the way to its future commercialization. The future of sustainable solar power engineering depends not only on the efficiency of energy generation, but also on the creation of a closed life cycle. The development of non-toxic materials and the introduction of mandatory producer responsibility for disposal are critical steps to prevent the environmental crisis and implement the principles of the circular economy.
References
Wu Zhipeng, et al., “A novel method for layer separation in waste crystalline silicon PV modules via combined low-temperature and thermal treatment,” Waste Management, vol. 172, pp. 299-307, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.10.036 .
Choi Jong-Won, et al., “Simple, green organic acid-based hydrometallurgy for waste-to-energy storage devices: Recovery of NiMnCoC2O4 as an electrode material for pseudocapacitor from spent LiNiMnCoO2 batteries,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 424, Part B, 127481, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127481 .
Т. В. Пімоненко, та ін., «Розвиток сонячної енергетики в Україні у контексті переходу до вуглецево-нейтральної економіки,» Вісник СумДУ. Серія «Економіка», № 1, с. 208-220, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.21272/1817-9215.2021.1-24 .
S. K. Behura, et al., “Graphene–semiconductor heterojunction sheds light on emerging photovoltaics,” Nat. Photonics, vol. 13, pp. 312-318, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-019-0391-9 .
W. Kong, et al., “Path towards graphene commercialization from lab to market,” Nat. Nanotechnol, vol. 14, pp. 927-938, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-019-0555-2 .
V. Larini, et al., “Circular management of perovskite solar cells using green solvents: from recycling and reuse of critical components to life cycle assessment,” EES Sol., vol. 1, pp. 378-390, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EL00004H .
G. Walther, et al., “Implementation of the WEEE-directive — economic effects and improvement potentials for reuse and recycling in Germany,” Int J Adv Manuf Technol, vol. 47, pp. 461-474, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-009-2243-0 .
Zoë Lenkiewicz, et al. Global Waste Management Outlook 2024: Beyond an Age of Waste – Turning Rubbish into a Resource. United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi, 2024. https://doi.org/10.59117/20.500.11822/44939 .
Dong Hee Shin, et al., “Highly-flexible graphene transparent conductive electrode/perovskite solar cells with graphene quantum dots-doped PCBM electron transport layer,” Dyes and Pigments, vol. 170, pp. 107630, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.107630 .
K. Parvez, et al. Graphene as Transparent Electrodes for Solar Cells. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527680016.ch10 .
A. Negash, et al., “Application of reduced graphene oxide as the hole transport layer in organic solar cells synthesized from waste dry cells using the electrochemical exfoliation method,” New Journal of Chemistry, vol. 46(27), pp. 13001-13009, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D2NJ01974D .
Z. Wang, et al., “Defects and Defect Passivation in Perovskite Solar Cells,” Molecules, vol. 29(9), 2104, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092104 .
J. A. Alexander-Webber, et al., “Encapsulation of graphene transistors and vertical device integration by interface engineering with atomic layer deposited oxide,” 2D Materials, vol. 4, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/4/1/011008 .
8 Major Raw Materials Used for Making Solar Panels. Vishakha Renewables, 2025. [Electronic resource]. Available: https://vishakharenewables.com/blog/8-major-raw-materials-used-for-making-solar-panels/ Accessed: September 5, 2025.
X. Xiao, et al., “Aqueous-based recycling of perovskite photovoltaics,” Nature, vol. 638, pp. 670–675, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08408-7 .
K. Sukmin, et al., “Experimental investigations for recycling of silicon and glass from waste photovoltaic modules,” Renewable Energy, vol. 47, pp. 152-159, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.04.030 .
F. Ardente et al., “Resource efficient recovery of critical and precious metals from waste silicon PV panel recycling,” Waste Manag., vol. 91, pp. 156-167, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.04.059 .
Perovskites and graphene. Perovskite-Info, 2025. [Electronic resource]. Available: https://www.perovskite-info.com/perovskites-and-graphene Accessed: September 5, 2025.
A. Usman, “Graphene: The Future of Solar Cells?” AZoM, 2021. [Electronic resource]. Available:
https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21100 . Accessed: September 5, 2025.
L. Pengfei, et al., “Graphene-Based Transparent Electrodes for Hybrid Solar Cells,” Frontiers in Materials, vol. 1, 2014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2014.00026 .
A. Binek, et al., “Recycling Perovskite Solar Cells To Avoid Lead Waste,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 8 (20), pp. 12881-12886, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b03767 .
Silicon Extraction Methods from Recycled Solar Cells, 2025. [Electronic resource]. Available:
https://xray.greyb.com/solar-cells/end-of-life-silicon-extraction Accessed: September 5, 2025.
Downloads
-
pdf (Українська)
Downloads: 68
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
