Anhui Huasheng has applied for a patent for a method of continuous layer recycling of heterojunction solar cells, aimed at improving corporate efficiency. According to information from the National Intellectual Property Administration, the patent, titled “Method for Continuous Layer Recycling of Heterojunction Solar Cells,” has the public number CN 119614885 A and was filed on November 2024.
The patent summary indicates that this invention provides a method for continuously recycling heterojunction solar cells, which includes the following steps:
- Step S1: Treating discarded heterojunction solar cells with nitric acid solution to detach the silver grid lines, resulting in silver-free solar cells and a silver nitrate solution. The silver nitrate solution is then reacted with an alkaline solution to produce silver oxide precipitate. This precipitate is subjected to thermal decomposition to yield elemental silver.
- Step S2: Reducing the indium oxide in the conductive film layer of the silver-free solar cells to obtain indium-free solar cells and elemental indium.
- Step S3: Placing the indium-free solar cells in an alkaline solution to fully corrode the silicon-doped composite film layer, resulting in monocrystalline silicon wafers.
This invention addresses the technical issues of low recycling efficiency, high processing costs, and complex operations associated with current technologies for recycling used solar cells. The proposed method efficiently separates silver, indium, and silicon continuously, is easy to operate, and is cost-effective. This is beneficial for enhancing corporate profits while also being environmentally friendly.
According to Tianyancha data, Anhui Huasheng New Materials Co., Ltd. was established in 2022 and is located in Xuancheng City. The company primarily engages in the production and supply of electricity and thermal energy, with a registered capital of 30 million RMB and a paid-in capital of 29.89 million RMB. Data analysis shows that the company has participated in 34 bidding projects and holds 20 patents, along with 9 administrative licenses.
