Transforming Photovoltaic Waste into High-Performance Battery Materials through a Closed-Loop Upcycling Strategy

Abstract

With the explosive growth of global photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity, a massive wave of PV module decommissioning is imminent. Retired modules contain valuable resources, including high-purity silicon, silver, and aluminum. Improper disposal may not only lead to resource loss but also pose risks of ecotoxicity. The efficient conversion of PV waste into battery materials aligns with environmental protection requirements and represents a critical pathway to secure the strategic supply of high-performance silicon-based anode materials. However, current research predominantly focuses on isolated technological steps and lacks a systematic synthesis of the entire value chain. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the full-chain technological pathways for the value-added utilization of PV waste in the battery sector. It offers a multidimensional analysis of the resource value, the spatiotemporal evolution of the decommissioning wave, and the associated environmental risks of PV waste. Focusing on the critical bottlenecks in the preprocessing stage for battery-grade conversion, we dissect the key technologies for silicon waste purification. Tracing the regeneration pathways for battery materials, we summarize strategies for structural design and functional modification of waste-derived silicon, and elucidate the mechanisms for mitigating volume expansion in silicon anodes. A realistic assessment of current industrial challenges is provided, alongside an outlook on the prospects for value-added utilization. By delineating the technological roadmap and transformation logic from PV waste to battery material recycling, we aim to contribute to the construction of a closed-loop green industry for “energy generation-storage”.