Physicochemical Properties of Antimony-containing Photovoltaic (PV) Glass

The proposed PhD thesis is part of the ANR GRISBI project (2026–2030), which aims to optimize the recycling of glass from photovoltaic (PV) panels. These glasses, predominantly manufactured in China, are doped with antimony oxide (Sb2O3) to ensure high transparency while keeping production costs low. However, the presence of antimony currently prevents the recycling of these glasses within the European flat glass industry, which would otherwise greatly benefit from this secondary raw material to reduce its environmental footprint — particularly its greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the carbon neutrality targets set by the Paris Agreement (2015). To make the recycling of PV glass into flat glass production feasible, it is therefore essential to gain a deeper understanding of the physicochemical behavior of antimony in glass, and more generally, within the float process, which involves a hot glass / liquid tin interface.

The core scientific objective of the PhD is to determine the redox equilibria between the multivalent species present in PV glasses, in particular the Sb2O3/Sb and Fe2O3/FeO couples. The work will involve preparing glasses with different Sb2O3 contents, then determining the mechanisms of antimony incorporation into the glass structure, as well as the temperature and oxygen partial pressure (pO2) conditions leading to the reduction of Sb³? to metallic Sb°. Experimental results, based on advanced materials characterizations such as SEM, XRD, EXAFS, and XANES, will be used to enrich thermodynamic databases and to develop a methodology enabling the recycling of Sb-doped PV glasses in flat glass production.

The PhD will be conducted at CEA Marcoule, in collaboration with IMPMC (Sorbonne Université) — two laboratories internationally recognized for their expertise in glass science. All glass samples will be synthesized by the PhD student, and their characterization will primarily rely on facilities available at CEA and IMPMC.

A background in Materials Science is required. This research project will provide the PhD candidate with the opportunity to develop strong expertise in applied glass science and industrial recycling technologies.