Life cycle assessment of dye-sensitized solar cells: a review

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating a product's environmental footprint and energy usage across its entire lifecycle. In the realm of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, conducting LCA studies is imperative to address environmental and energy concerns while fostering sustainable advancements in PV technologies. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), also known as Grätzel-type cells, emerge as promising candidates for integration into building structures and powering numerous small electronic devices, particularly in indoor settings. DSSCs have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their cost-effectiveness, boasting notably lower economic and environmental burdens compared to conventional silicon-based cells, albeit their industrial competitiveness in terms of efficiency remains a challenge. Advancements in this domain necessitate substantial investment in research and development endeavors aimed at optimizing all facets of DSSC technology. In this study, we analyze different alternatives for each DSSC component from the point of view of environmental impact, both during manufacturing and at the end of their life, as well as the degradation factors that occur during the lifetime of the device, based on past studies. We also discuss several life cycle assessments available for this technology to determine which components can be reused or recycled, and which must be discarded. Our findings suggest that DSSCs are a particularly stable technology. However, more studies are needed to fully understand its environmental impacts, especially for scaling up the production process.

کلیدواژه ها:

: DSSCs ، Life Cycle Assessment ، renewable energy ، Solar Cell