Assessing aspects of solution-based chemical synthesis to convert waste Si solar cells into nanostructured aluminosilicate crystals

• The end-of-life recycling of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules and the utilisation of waste is of fundamental importance to future circular-economy societies. In the present work, the wet-chemistry synthesis route – a low-temperature dissolution–precipitation process – was explored to produce aluminosilicate minerals from waste c-Si solar cells. Nanostructured crystals were produced in an alkaline medium by increasing the reaction temperature from room temperature to 75 °C. The morphology of the produced crystals varied from nanolayered aggregates to rod-shaped crystals and was found to be dependent on the temperature of the reaction medium. Chemical and phase composition studies revealed that the synthesised compounds consisted of structurally different phases of aluminosilicate minerals. The purity and elemental composition of produced crystals were evaluated by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) analysis, confirming the presence of Al, O, and Si elements. These results give new insights into the processing of aluminosilicate minerals with sustainable attributes and provide a possible route to reducing waste and strengthening the circular economy.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

CT scan

Full-field data

Image processing

Moisture simulation

Mould estimation

Multivariate modelling

Träteknik

Wood Science and Engineering

Electric Power Engineering

Elkraftteknik

Ore Geology

Malmgeologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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