Ruka Yazawa, Pranta Sarker, Yugo Nakahara, Kaito Suzuki, Shoji Yoshioka, Wong Kuo Hong, Asami S. Mashio, Masahiro Nakano, Tatsuya Nishimura, Makoto Karakawa, Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Hidetaka Yamada, Jean‐Michel Nunzi, Katsuhiro Maeda, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Tetsuya Taima, Md. Shahiduzzaman
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide End-of-life disposal of flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs) remains a major challenge due to lack of efficient recovery technologies for toxic lead (Pb) and valuable metals like gold (Au) from electrodes and indium (In) from ITO-PET substrates. In this study, we investigate an effective recovery strategy for discarded flexible PSCs using a cellulose-based adsorbent (DMC-2) and chelating resins. From the solution obtained by dissolving PSCs, Au is selectively recovered under strongly acidic conditions with a recovery efficiency of 91.6% using DMC-2, while subsequent pH adjustment enables nearly complete recovery of Pb (99.7%) and In (100%) using the chelating resin. This approach provides an environmentally responsible and highly efficient pathway for recovering toxic Pb and valuable metals from flexible PSCs, which is needed to support their sustainable utilization.