From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies

Gao, Yaoxu; Jumayi, Baheila; Wei, Peng; Song, Chenxi; Wang, Shuying; Shen, Xiangqian

doi:10.3390/cryst16010024

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From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies

by

Yaoxu Gao

^1,†,

Baheila Jumayi

^1,†,

Peng Wei

¹,

Chenxi Song

¹,

Shuying Wang

^1,* and

Xiangqian Shen

^1,2,*

¹

Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Solid State Physics and Devices, School of Physical Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China

²

State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Crystals 2026, 16(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16010024

Submission received: 3 December 2025 / Revised: 22 December 2025 / Accepted: 25 December 2025 / Published: 28 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth and Properties of Photovoltaic Materials)

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Abstract

The rapid progress of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has established them as a groundbreaking technology for sustainable energy. However, the sustainability of their lifecycle is still hindered by challenges related to material toxicity and end-of-life management. This review comprehensively assesses emerging recycling technologies, with a particular focus on their effectiveness in recovering perovskite compounds, transparent conductive oxides, and metallic contacts. Mechanical separation, solvent-based dissolution, thermal decomposition, and hybrid methods are compared in terms of recovery rates, purity levels, energy consumption, and scalability. Current challenges, such as the generation of secondary waste, the instability of recovered perovskites, and economic barriers, are critically analyzed alongside emerging solutions, including the use of non-toxic solvents, vacuum-assisted recovery, and the integration of closed-loop manufacturing. By evaluating lifecycle impacts and cost–benefit trade-offs, this work outlines pathways for transforming PSC waste into high-value secondary resources, thereby promoting both environmental sustainability and industrial competitiveness.

Keywords: perovskite solar cells; recycling; sustainability; photovoltaics; circular economy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Gao, Y.; Jumayi, B.; Wei, P.; Song, C.; Wang, S.; Shen, X. From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies. Crystals 2026, 16, 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16010024

AMA Style

Gao Y, Jumayi B, Wei P, Song C, Wang S, Shen X. From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies. Crystals. 2026; 16(1):24. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16010024

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gao, Yaoxu, Baheila Jumayi, Peng Wei, Chenxi Song, Shuying Wang, and Xiangqian Shen. 2026. "From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies" Crystals 16, no. 1: 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16010024

APA Style

Gao, Y., Jumayi, B., Wei, P., Song, C., Wang, S., & Shen, X. (2026). From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies. Crystals, 16(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16010024

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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From Waste to Value: A Comprehensive Review of Perovskite Solar Cell Recycling Technologies

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