| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2021 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Design and Manufacturing Approaches for the Next Generation of Sustainable Materials: The 2021 Student-led Symposium
|
| Presentation Title |
III-V Photovoltaic Substrate Reuse and Recycle Strategies for Reduced Cost and Improved Materials Utilization |
| Author(s) |
Corinne E. Packard |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Corinne E. Packard |
| Abstract Scope |
Gallium-arsenide-based (III-V) photovoltaics boast the highest efficiencies of all solar technologies, but these efficiencies are only achieved in devices grown epitaxially on single crystal substrates that make up ~80% of the total cost of producing the devices. Typically <10% (but as little as 0%!) of the substrate thickness contributes to the device efficiency, thus excess substrate is chemically etched off or carried around as extra weight. This talk discusses strategies to reuse or recycle excess Ge and GaAs substrates, creating thin, flexible devices in the process. Device release through chemical and mechanical means are detailed, along with device performance data, reuse demonstrations, and cost estimates. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Electronic Materials, Energy Conversion and Storage |