Promoting Sustainability in the Recycling of End-of-Life Photovoltaic Panels and Li-Ion Batteries Through LIBS-Assisted Waste Sorting

To promote sustainability and reduce the ecological footprint of recycling processes, this study develops an analytical tool for fast and accurate identification of components in photovoltaic panels (PVs) and Li-Ion battery waste, optimizing material recovery and minimizing resource wastage. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was selected and employed to identify fluoropolymers in photovoltaic back sheets and to determine the thickness of layers containing fluorine. LIBS was also used for Li-Ion batteries to reveal the elemental composition of anode, cathode, and separator materials. The analysis not only revealed all the elements contained in the electrodes but also, in the case of cathode materials, allowed distinguishing a single-component cathode (cathode A containing LiCoO 2 ) from multi-component materials (cathode B containing a mixture of LiMn 2 O 4 and LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 ). The results of LIBS analysis were verified using SEM-EDS analysis and XRD examination. Additionally, an indirect method for identifying fluoropolymers (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)) employed to prepare dispersions of cathode materials was proposed according to the differences in wettability of both polymers. By enabling efficient material identification and separation, this study advances sustainable recycling practices, supporting circular economy goals in the renewable energy sector.