Bioinspired “cage traps” for closed-loop lead management of perovskite solar cells under real-world contamination assessment

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) show promise for renewable energy but face challenges due to potential lead (Pb) contamination. This study introduces biomimetic cage traps (BCTs) inspired by spider webs to mitigate Pb leakage. BCTs, incorporating a mesoporous amino-grafted-carbon net, capture Pb through chemical chelation and physical adsorption. Real-world Pb contamination assessment in Yellow River water and soil demonstrates the BCTs' effectiveness. A closed-loop Pb management process involving precipitation, adsorption, desorption, and recycling is established, with recycled PbI2 purity comparable to commercial standards. The findings support the green and sustainable industrialization of PSCs.

Huaiqing Luo, Pengwei Li, Junjie Ma, Xue Li, He Zhu, Yajie Cheng, Qin Li, Qun Xu, Yiqiang Zhang, Yanlin Song