PV panels, crucial for producing decarbonized electricity, have a limited lifespan due to performance degradation, failures, or economic factors. In the next decade, millions of tons of PV panels will become waste, posing significant environmental and societal challenges. Europe has recognized this problem through the WEEE directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to manage electronic waste, including PV.
PV modules are complex devices containing critical materials such as silver and long-life pollutants like fluorinated polymers. On top of that, the glass sheet and the silicon solar cells show a high carbon footprint, making the reuse essential to mitigate environmental impact. Various dismantling techniques have been explored in R&D labs to obtain pure fractions of metals, polymers and glass, but these methods require further improvement. Key objectives include selectivity and purity, material yield and control of residual pollution. To boost the sustainability of photovoltaic energy, managing module lifespans in a circular economy vision is essential.
The LITEN institute is leading research into delamination and separation methods to enhance the quality of recycled materials. In this postdoc opportunity, we will explore the implementation of ultrasonic waves for dismantling or repairing PV modules. The development of a numerical model to understand vibration phenomena in PV panels will support the design of a tool for efficient wave coupling. Beside modelling ant tool set-up, we will explore new PV architectures based on "design to recycle" and "design to repair" principles, focusing on composite layers sensitive to ultrasound. Evaluating various phenomena induced by these layers, such as optical transmission and thermo-mechanical behaviour, will be a key aspect of the study. The research will leverage a high-level scientific environment, with expertise in thermo-mechanical numerical modelling, PV module design and prototype’s fabrication.