Relative impacts of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells based on life cycle assessment

The environmental performance of four different device assembly procedures based on hybrid halide perovskite solar cell (PSC) were assessed from cradle to grave using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In addition, a new environmental indicator was defined to measure the time evolution of an impact category, specifically in this case, human toxicity cancer payback time. PSCs procedures accounted for the probably three more used basic recipes for laboratory perovskite deposition: 1) spin coating of stoichiometric precursor solution, 2) spin coating of precursor solution using lead chloride precursor and 3) the two step deposition method. Also, the two most widely used substrate configurations (planar and mesoporous substrate)were considered. LCA included three realistic scenarios for the end of life: 1) residual landfill, 2) reuse and residual landfill and 3) reuse and recycling. The remaining variable parameters to assemble the device were fixed in common for all four devices, which were the major responsible of the whole PSC impact. Lead of PSCs had no significant contribution in environmental impacts. Beyond shared procedure steps, impacts generated by the two-step method and the use of mesostructured type substrate were higher. End of life scenario with reuse and recycling improved the toxicity impact categories. •We conduct a life cycle assessment of four different types of perovskite solar cell.•Two different perovskite synthesis methods are compared.•A two-steps deposition method and a scaffold are compared.•Landfill, reuse plus landfill, and reuse plus recycling scenarios are included.•Human toxicity payback time is proposed as new indicator. [Display omitted]