Abstract: The PV modules, as the key components of PV power generation, have been facing large-scale resource loss and the diffusion of heavy metals in the environment with the vigorous development of global photovoltaic (PV) industry. Recovery of secondary resources contained in end-of-life (EoL) PV modules will become an indispensable way to solve the environmental pollution problem and to promote the sustainable development of the PV industry. The thermal, mechanical and chemical treatment processes are used for carrying out the disassembly and dissociation of PV modules, which have been paid attention to by the researchers. The recycling methods can be classified into two types based on the analysis of the existed recycling technologies are proposed. The two types are cell-nondestructive recycling and component-integrated recycling technologies respectively. The different layering processes are presented for the cell-nondestructive recycling technologies, and the causes are analyzed for breaking the cell silicon wafer. Especially, the low-temperature crushing and high voltage fragmentation technologies are discussed to carry out the disassembly of waste PV modules. The reutilization of EoL PV module materials, the economic and environmental analysis are systematically reviewed. Finally, the developing trend and prospect of recycling of EoL PV modules are put forward, which provides the references for the development of a cleaner and more efficient recycling process in the future.

Key words: crystalline silicon PV modules, EoL PV modules, resource recovery, cell silicon wafer, cell nondestructive recycling, component integrated recycling