Innovation is afoot in almost every sphere of human existence and this is most evident with recent efforts to create solar energy from old lead batteries. Used batteries are mostly known to leak out chemicals and this is a source of serious lead pollution in case of improper disposal. According to research scientists at MIT, the waste stream can be freed totally of lead and energy can be created without the fear of emissions. In recently unveiled research reports and studies, scientists have demonstrated the proposed process of transformation.
Recycled lead garnered from used car batteries has the same impact as fresh lead according to these scientific studies when it is deployed in solar cells. Organolead halide perovskite film is used to make these cells and this compound is a rising competitor of silicon with regard to the production of solar power. The entire procedure is pocket friendly as well according to researchers. The official release from MIT states the world needs to embrace methods of tackling impending problems related to toxic waste especially in light of the rapid switch over to lithium ion cells in place of lead and acid batteries.
Substantial environmental problems can crop up owing to the disuse of approximately 200 million batteries that use lead and acid in the near future. This statistic holds good for the United States alone once lithium ion technology carves its own niche. This impending issue should be combated by using this for solar energy generation. As can be observed, the global market for lead batteries will shrink down totally in times to come. As a result, scientists are focusing on the perovskite that is obtained from recycled lead in a single car battery. This alone can spawn solar energy cells to take care of the needs of a staggering 30 households! These perovskite based solar panels will also be cost effective in comparison to ones that make use of silicon with the total absorption of leaded film within added materials.
Research studies like this could lead to evolutionary and path breaking green energy developments as they make possible the development of solar panels from waste considered potentially hazardous. The experimental solar cells talked of earlier have been seen to match up to commercial silicon cells in terms of efficiency according to MIT. A rigorous 18 months of testing have yielded immensely positive results and can well be a blueprint for the future of solar energy generation. Perovskite is already fancied by multiple researchers and is increasingly used as window and surface coating materials by a few companies specializing in manufacturing solar cells with the same.
According to MIT, the entire process can be made environment friendly and will essentially be a low temperature production process. In what is being seen as a fantastic solution for tackling lead waste and energy crises across the world, MIT may have actually stumbled upon a future goldmine and is planning to use its research findings with utmost care and jurisdiction to ensure proper execution.
