Korea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea; Soils and Plant Nutrition Division, Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila 61150, Sri Lanka.
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
Environ Res. 2023 Feb 15;219:115066. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115066. Epub 2022 Dec 14.
Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained extensive attention in the field of solar photovoltaic technology over the past few years. Despite being a remarkable alternative to fossil fuels, solar cells may have detrimental effects on the environment and human health owing to the use of toxic materials during manufacturing. Although modern metal-halide-based PSCs are stable and have encapsulation to prevent the release of potentially toxic materials into the environment, their destruction due to strong winds, hail, snow, landslides, fires, or waste disposal can result in the exposure of these materials to the environment. This may lead to the contamination of soil and groundwater, and uptake of potentially toxic elements by plants, subsequently affecting humans and other living organisms via food chain contamination. Despite worldwide concern, the environmental and ecotoxicological impacts of metal-halide-based PSCs have not been comprehensively surveyed. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the current status of metal-halide-based PSC production and its impact on environmental sustainability, food security, and human health. Furthermore, safe handling and disposal methods for the waste generated from metal-halide-based PSCs are proposed, with a focus on recycling and reuse. Although some studies have suggested that the amount of lead released from metal halide PSCs is far below the maximum permissible levels in most soils, a clear conclusion cannot be reached until real contamination scenarios are assessed under field conditions. Precautions must be taken to minimize environmental contamination throughout the lifecycle of PSCs until nontoxic and similarly performing alternative solar photovoltaic products are developed.
金属卤化物钙钛矿太阳能电池 (PSCs) 在过去几年中在太阳能光伏技术领域引起了广泛关注。尽管作为化石燃料的替代品具有重要意义，但由于制造过程中使用了有毒材料，太阳能电池可能对环境和人类健康产生有害影响。尽管现代基于金属卤化物的 PSCs 稳定且具有封装以防止潜在有毒材料释放到环境中，但由于强风、冰雹、雪、山体滑坡、火灾或废物处理导致它们的破坏，这些材料可能会暴露在环境中。这可能导致土壤和地下水受到污染，以及潜在有毒元素被植物吸收，进而通过食物链污染影响人类和其他生物。尽管引起了全球关注，但金属卤化物基 PSCs 的环境和生态毒性影响尚未得到全面调查。本综述总结并批判性地评估了金属卤化物基 PSC 生产的现状及其对环境可持续性、食品安全和人类健康的影响。此外，还提出了针对金属卤化物基 PSCs 产生的废物的安全处理和处置方法，重点是回收和再利用。尽管一些研究表明，从金属卤化物 PSCs 中释放的铅量远低于大多数土壤中的最大允许水平，但在现场条件下评估实际污染情况之前，无法得出明确的结论。在开发出无毒且性能相当的替代太阳能光伏产品之前，必须采取措施尽量减少 PSCs 整个生命周期中的环境污染。
