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Assessing health and environmental impacts of solvents for producing perovskite solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • Rosario Vidal

    (Universitat Jaume I)

  • Jaume-Adrià Alberola-Borràs

    (Universitat Jaume I
    Universitat Jaume I)

  • Severin N. Habisreutinger

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • Joaquín-Luis Gimeno-Molina

    (Universitat Jaume I)

  • David T. Moore

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • Tracy H. Schloemer

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    Colorado School of Mines)

  • Iván Mora-Seró

    (Universitat Jaume I)

  • Joseph J. Berry

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • Joseph M. Luther

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Abstract

Halide perovskites are poised as a game-changing semiconductor system with diverse applications in optoelectronics. Industrial entities aim to commercialize perovskite technologies because of high performance but also because this type of semiconductor can be processed from solution, a feature enabling low cost and fast production. Here, we analyse the health and environmental impacts of eight solvents commonly used in perovskite processing. We consider first- and higher-order ramifications of each solvent on an industrial scale such as solvent production, use/removal, emissions and potential end-of-life treatments. Further, we consider the energy of evaporation for each solvent, air emission, condensation and subsequent incineration, reuse or distillation for solvent recycling, and apply a full end-of-life analysis. For human health impact, we use the ‘USEtox’ method but also consider toxicity data beyond carcinogenic classifications. We find that dimethyl sulfoxide has the lowest total impact, by being the most environmentally friendly and least deleterious to human health of the solvents considered. The analysis of the effects of these solvents on human health and the environment provides guidance for sustainable development of this new technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosario Vidal & Jaume-Adrià Alberola-Borràs & Severin N. Habisreutinger & Joaquín-Luis Gimeno-Molina & David T. Moore & Tracy H. Schloemer & Iván Mora-Seró & Joseph J. Berry & Joseph M. Luther, 2021. "Assessing health and environmental impacts of solvents for producing perovskite solar cells," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 277-285, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1038_s41893-020-00645-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00645-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Fangming & Liu, Xin & Li, Mengbin & Uguna, Clement & Wang, Wenlong & Sun, Chenggong, 2023. "Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) derived microporous carbons prepared via hydrothermal dechlorination and potassium hydroxide activation for efficient CO2 capture," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    2. Ouedraogo, Nabonswende Aida Nadege & Odunmbaku, George Omololu & Ouyang, Yunfei & Xiong, Xiqiu & Guo, Bing & Chen, Shanshan & Lu, Shirong & Sun, Kuan, 2024. "Eco-friendly processing of perovskite solar cells in ambient air," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Tong Wang & Jiabao Yang & Qi Cao & Xingyu Pu & Yuke Li & Hui Chen & Junsong Zhao & Yixin Zhang & Xingyuan Chen & Xuanhua Li, 2023. "Room temperature nondestructive encapsulation via self-crosslinked fluorosilicone polymer enables damp heat-stable sustainable perovskite solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Bhati, Naveen & Nazeeruddin, Mohammad Khaja & Maréchal, François, 2024. "Environmental impacts as the key objectives for perovskite solar cells optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    5. Ershad Parvazian & Trystan Watson, 2024. "The roll-to-roll revolution to tackle the industrial leap for perovskite solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-4, December.

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