IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i2p398-d479232.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Size- and Surface-Dependent Solubility of Cadmium Telluride in Aqueous Solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Renate Zapf-Gottwick

    (Institute for Photovoltaics and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Matthias Zorn

    (Institute for Photovoltaics and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Jessica Nover

    (Institute for Photovoltaics and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Michael Koch

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality, and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Carolin Feifel

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality, and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Jürgen H. Werner

    (Institute for Photovoltaics and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

Due to the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and the scarcity of telluride (Te), CdTe-based photovoltaic modules have been under discussion during the last few years. In particular, the stability of CdTe in aqueous solutions is under debate. Here we show that the stability of CdTe depends not only on the pH of water-based solutions but also on size and surface treatment of CdTe particles. We compare milled module pieces with CdTe powders of different particle size. The leaching of CdTe is conditioned by the outdiffusion of Cd and Te at the interface between CdTe particles and the aqueous solution. The smaller the particle size, the faster the leaching. Therefore, milled module pieces decompose faster than CdTe powders with relatively large grains. We observe a dependence on time t according to t 0.4 3 . The room temperature diffusion coefficients are calculated as D Cd ≈ 3 × 10 −17 cm 2 /s for Cd, and D Te ≈ 1.5 × 10 −17 cm 2 /s for Te in pH4. The chemical instability in aqueous solutions follows thermodynamic considerations. The solution behavior of Cd and Te depends on the pH value and the redox potential of the aqueous solutions. Chemical treatments such as those used in solar cell production modify the surface of the CdTe particles and their leaching behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Renate Zapf-Gottwick & Matthias Zorn & Jessica Nover & Michael Koch & Carolin Feifel & Jürgen H. Werner, 2021. "Size- and Surface-Dependent Solubility of Cadmium Telluride in Aqueous Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:398-:d:479232
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/398/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/398/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fthenakis, Vasilis M., 2004. "Life cycle impact analysis of cadmium in CdTe PV production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 303-334, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Juergen Heinz Werner & Renate Zapf-Gottwick & Jessica Nover & Michael Koch, 2021. "Reply to Sinha, P.; Wade, A. Comment on “Nover et al. Leaching via Weak Spots in Photovoltaic Modules. Energies 2021, 14 , 692”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-4, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fthenakis, Vasilis & Wang, Wenming & Kim, Hyung Chul, 2009. "Life cycle inventory analysis of the production of metals used in photovoltaics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 493-517, April.
    2. Marwede, Max & Berger, Wolfgang & Schlummer, Martin & Mäurer, Andreas & Reller, Armin, 2013. "Recycling paths for thin-film chalcogenide photovoltaic waste – Current feasible processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 220-229.
    3. Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Mustafa, Nur Ifthitah & Hanafiah, Marlia M. & Ibrahim, Mohd Adib & Asri Mat Teridi, Mohd & Sepeai, Suhaila & Zaharim, Azami & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2018. "Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-28.
    4. Leena Grandell & Mikael Höök, 2015. "Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Tyagi, V.V. & Rahim, Nurul A.A. & Rahim, N.A. & Selvaraj, Jeyraj A./L., 2013. "Progress in solar PV technology: Research and achievement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 443-461.
    6. Elshkaki, Ayman & Graedel, T.E., 2015. "Solar cell metals and their hosts: A tale of oversupply and undersupply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 167-177.
    7. Michael Redlinger & Roderick Eggert & Michael Woodhouse, 2014. "Evaluating the Availability of Gallium, Indium, and Tellurium from Recycled Photovoltaic Modules," Working Papers 2014-09, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    8. Berger, Wolfgang & Simon, Franz-Georg & Weimann, Karin & Alsema, Erik A., 2010. "A novel approach for the recycling of thin film photovoltaic modules," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(10), pages 711-718.
    9. Sinha, Parikhit & Kriegner, Christopher J. & Schew, William A. & Kaczmar, Swiatoslav W. & Traister, Matthew & Wilson, David J., 2008. "Regulatory policy governing cadmium-telluride photovoltaics: A case study contrasting life cycle management with the precautionary principle," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 381-387, January.
    10. Asim, Nilofar & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman & Ahmadi, Shideh & Saeedfar, Kasra & Alghoul, M.A. & Saadatian, Omidreza & Zaidi, Saleem H., 2012. "A review on the role of materials science in solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5834-5847.
    11. Songi Kim & Bongju Jeong, 2016. "Closed-Loop Supply Chain Planning Model for a Photovoltaic System Manufacturer with Internal and External Recycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, June.
    12. Ornella Malandrino & Daniela Sica & Mario Testa & Stefania Supino, 2017. "Policies and Measures for Sustainable Management of Solar Panel End-of-Life in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, March.
    13. Cyrs, William D. & Avens, Heather J. & Capshaw, Zachary A. & Kingsbury, Robert A. & Sahmel, Jennifer & Tvermoes, Brooke E., 2014. "Landfill waste and recycling: Use of a screening-level risk assessment tool for end-of-life cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 524-533.
    14. Billen, Pieter & Leccisi, Enrica & Dastidar, Subham & Li, Siming & Lobaton, Liliana & Spatari, Sabrina & Fafarman, Aaron T. & Fthenakis, Vasilis M. & Baxter, Jason B., 2019. "Comparative evaluation of lead emissions and toxicity potential in the life cycle of lead halide perovskite photovoltaics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1089-1096.
    15. Cha, Kyounghoon & Son, Minjung & Matsuno, Yasunari & Fthenakis, Vasilis & Hur, Tak, 2013. "Substance flow analysis of cadmium in Korea," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 31-39.
    16. Vellini, Michela & Gambini, Marco & Prattella, Valentina, 2017. "Environmental impacts of PV technology throughout the life cycle: Importance of the end-of-life management for Si-panels and CdTe-panels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 1099-1111.
    17. Bergesen, Joseph D. & Suh, Sangwon, 2016. "A framework for technological learning in the supply chain: A case study on CdTe photovoltaics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 721-728.
    18. Mahta Talebzadeh & Caterina Valeo & Rishi Gupta & C. Peter Constabel, 2021. "Exploring the Potential in LID Technologies for Remediating Heavy Metals in Carwash Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    19. Ravikumar, Dwarakanath & Malghan, Deepak, 2013. "Material constraints for indigenous production of CdTe PV: Evidence from a Monte Carlo experiment using India's National Solar Mission Benchmarks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 393-403.
    20. Raugei, Marco & Fthenakis, Vasilis, 2010. "Cadmium flows and emissions from CdTe PV: future expectations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 5223-5228, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:398-:d:479232. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.