Publication date: 17th February 2025
The rapid expansion of perovskite solar cell (PSC) research has led to the daily fabrication of hundreds to thousands of laboratory-scale devices, resulting in significant consumption of indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates. [1] Given the scarcity of indium and its price volatility due to geopolitical factors, developing sustainable strategies for substrate reuse is crucial. [2-4] This work presents a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for reusing glass/ITO substrates, utilizing an acetone-based cleaning process integrated into standard laboratory procedures. Unlike alternative methods requiring harsh or toxic solvents, our approach effectively removes residual layers while maintaining the structural and optoelectronic integrity of the substrates.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates that after multiple reuse cycles, the CO₂ emissions and overall greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint are significantly reduced, with increasing benefits for larger batch processing. Importantly, perovskite solar cells fabricated on reused ITO substrates exhibit stable performance (~18% PCE), comparable to fresh substrates, even after three reuse cycles. Our findings confirm that self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are removed during the process and must be reapplied for optimal device performance. This work demonstrates a practical strategy to enhance sustainability in PSC research by promoting circular material use, reducing waste, and decreasing reliance on critical raw materials.
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