IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natsus/v8y2025i3d10.1038_s41893-024-01503-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards sustainable perovskite light-emitting diodes

Author

Listed:
  • Muyi Zhang

    (Linköping University)

  • Xiaotian Ma

    (Shandong University)

  • John Laurence Esguerra

    (Linköping University)

  • Hongling Yu

    (Linköping University
    University of Oxford)

  • Olof Hjelm

    (Linköping University)

  • Jiashuo Li

    (Shandong University)

  • Feng Gao

    (Linköping University
    Linköping University)

Abstract

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are advancing to become the frontrunner candidates for the next generation of lighting and display technologies. However, despite rapid technical development, a thorough understanding of PeLEDs’ environmental and economic impacts—essential information for future commercialization—is currently lacking. Here we assess the environmental and economic performance of 18 representative PeLEDs, aiming to identify effective industrial techniques to develop sustainable PeLEDs from a life-cycle perspective. We find that, like mature organic LEDs, PeLEDs show excellent environmental performance. In addition, we demonstrate that lead is not a major source of toxicity from PeLEDs. We estimate that, to commercialize PeLEDs and improve their sustainability, their lifetime should reach the order of 10,000 hours to compensate for the relative environmental impacts. The techno-economic assessment indicates that the cost of future PeLEDs will probably be in the vicinity of US$100 m–2, comparable to that of commercial organic LED panels. Overall, this study shows the potential of PeLEDs as next-generation lighting technology from environmental, economic and technical perspectives, providing insights relevant to their future development.

Suggested Citation

  • Muyi Zhang & Xiaotian Ma & John Laurence Esguerra & Hongling Yu & Olof Hjelm & Jiashuo Li & Feng Gao, 2025. "Towards sustainable perovskite light-emitting diodes," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 315-324, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:8:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01503-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01503-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-024-01503-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41893-024-01503-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bo Chen & Chengbin Fei & Shangshang Chen & Hangyu Gu & Xun Xiao & Jinsong Huang, 2021. "Recycling lead and transparent conductors from perovskite solar modules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Gunnar Luderer & Michaja Pehl & Anders Arvesen & Thomas Gibon & Benjamin L. Bodirsky & Harmen Sytze de Boer & Oliver Fricko & Mohamad Hejazi & Florian Humpenöder & Gokul Iyer & Silvana Mima & Ioanna M, 2019. "Environmental co-benefits and adverse side-effects of alternative power sector decarbonization strategies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. So Yeon Park & Ji-Sang Park & Byeong Jo Kim & Hyemin Lee & Aron Walsh & Kai Zhu & Dong Hoe Kim & Hyun Suk Jung, 2020. "Sustainable lead management in halide perovskite solar cells," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1044-1051, December.
    4. Mudd, Gavin M., 2007. "Global trends in gold mining: Towards quantifying environmental and resource sustainability," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-2), pages 42-56.
    5. Xun Li & Fei Zhang & Jianxin Wang & Jinhui Tong & Tao Xu & Kai Zhu, 2021. "On-device lead-absorbing tapes for sustainable perovskite solar cells," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 1038-1041, December.
    6. Rosario Vidal & Jaume-Adrià Alberola-Borràs & Severin N. Habisreutinger & Joaquín-Luis Gimeno-Molina & David T. Moore & Tracy H. Schloemer & Iván Mora-Seró & Joseph J. Berry & Joseph M. Luther, 2021. "Assessing health and environmental impacts of solvents for producing perovskite solar cells," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 277-285, March.
    7. Byeong Jo Kim & Dong Hoe Kim & Seung Lee Kwon & So Yeon Park & Zhen Li & Kai Zhu & Hyun Suk Jung, 2016. "Selective dissolution of halide perovskites as a step towards recycling solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, September.
    8. Shangshang Chen & Yehao Deng & Xun Xiao & Shuang Xu & Peter N. Rudd & Jinsong Huang, 2021. "Preventing lead leakage with built-in resin layers for sustainable perovskite solar cells," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(7), pages 636-643, July.
    9. Marwede, Max & Berger, Wolfgang & Schlummer, Martin & Mäurer, Andreas & Reller, Armin, 2013. "Recycling paths for thin-film chalcogenide photovoltaic waste – Current feasible processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 220-229.
    10. Yasser Hassan & Jong Hyun Park & Michael L. Crawford & Aditya Sadhanala & Jeongjae Lee & James C. Sadighian & Edoardo Mosconi & Ravichandran Shivanna & Eros Radicchi & Mingyu Jeong & Changduk Yang & H, 2021. "Ligand-engineered bandgap stability in mixed-halide perovskite LEDs," Nature, Nature, vol. 591(7848), pages 72-77, March.
    11. Xueyu Tian & Samuel D. Stranks & Fengqi You, 2021. "Life cycle assessment of recycling strategies for perovskite photovoltaic modules," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(9), pages 821-829, September.
    12. Yuanzhi Jiang & Changjiu Sun & Jian Xu & Saisai Li & Minghuan Cui & Xinliang Fu & Yuan Liu & Yaqi Liu & Haoyue Wan & Keyu Wei & Tong Zhou & Wei Zhang & Yingguo Yang & Jien Yang & Chaochao Qin & Shuyan, 2022. "Synthesis-on-substrate of quantum dot solids," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7941), pages 679-684, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huaiqing Luo & Pengwei Li & Junjie Ma & Xue Li & He Zhu & Yajie Cheng & Qin Li & Qun Xu & Yiqiang Zhang & Yanlin Song, 2023. "Bioinspired “cage traps” for closed-loop lead management of perovskite solar cells under real-world contamination assessment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Tong Wang & Jiabao Yang & Qi Cao & Xingyu Pu & Yuke Li & Hui Chen & Junsong Zhao & Yixin Zhang & Xingyuan Chen & Xuanhua Li, 2023. "Room temperature nondestructive encapsulation via self-crosslinked fluorosilicone polymer enables damp heat-stable sustainable perovskite solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Bo Chen & Chengbin Fei & Shangshang Chen & Hangyu Gu & Xun Xiao & Jinsong Huang, 2021. "Recycling lead and transparent conductors from perovskite solar modules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Yang Bryan Cao & Daquan Zhang & Qianpeng Zhang & Xiao Qiu & Yu Zhou & Swapnadeep Poddar & Yu Fu & Yudong Zhu & Jin-Feng Liao & Lei Shu & Beitao Ren & Yucheng Ding & Bing Han & Zhubing He & Dai-Bin Kua, 2023. "High-efficiency, flexible and large-area red/green/blue all-inorganic metal halide perovskite quantum wires-based light-emitting diodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Bhati, Naveen & Nazeeruddin, Mohammad Khaja & Maréchal, François, 2024. "Environmental impacts as the key objectives for perovskite solar cells optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    6. Mukwevho, Nehemiah & Mkhohlakali, Andile & Ntsasa, Napo & Sehata, James & Chimuka, Luke & Tshilongo, James & Letsoalo, Mokgehle R., 2025. "Methodological approaches for resource recovery from end-of-life panels of different generations of photovoltaic technologies – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Ershad Parvazian & Trystan Watson, 2024. "The roll-to-roll revolution to tackle the industrial leap for perovskite solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-4, December.
    8. Daria D. Blach & Victoria A. Lumsargis-Roth & Chern Chuang & Daniel E. Clark & Shibin Deng & Olivia F. Williams & Christina W. Li & Jianshu Cao & Libai Huang, 2025. "Environment-assisted quantum transport of excitons in perovskite nanocrystal superlattices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Khalil Nimer & Muath Abdelqader & Cemil Kuzey & Ali Uyar, 2024. "Emission targeting and carbon emissions: The moderating effect of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3480-3504, May.
    10. Krausmann, Fridolin & Gingrich, Simone & Eisenmenger, Nina & Erb, Karl-Heinz & Haberl, Helmut & Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, 2009. "Growth in global materials use, GDP and population during the 20th century," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(10), pages 2696-2705, August.
    11. Weilun Li & Mengmeng Hao & Ardeshir Baktash & Lianzhou Wang & Joanne Etheridge, 2023. "The role of ion migration, octahedral tilt, and the A-site cation on the instability of Cs1-xFAxPbI3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Yuchen Fu & Hugh Lohan & Marcello Righetto & Yi-Teng Huang & Seán R. Kavanagh & Chang-Woo Cho & Szymon J. Zelewski & Young Won Woo & Harry Demetriou & Martyn A. McLachlan & Sandrine Heutz & Benjamin A, 2025. "Structural and electronic features enabling delocalized charge-carriers in CuSbSe2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    13. Domínguez, Adriana & Geyer, Roland, 2019. "Photovoltaic waste assessment of major photovoltaic installations in the United States of America," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 1188-1200.
    14. Guiomar Calvo & Gavin Mudd & Alicia Valero & Antonio Valero, 2016. "Decreasing Ore Grades in Global Metallic Mining: A Theoretical Issue or a Global Reality?," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-14, November.
    15. Ki‐Hoon Lee, 2017. "Does Size Matter? Evaluating Corporate Environmental Disclosure in the Australian Mining and Metal Industry: A Combined Approach of Quantity and Quality Measurement," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 209-223, February.
    16. Tobias Junne & Sonja Simon & Jens Buchgeister & Maximilian Saiger & Manuel Baumann & Martina Haase & Christina Wulf & Tobias Naegler, 2020. "Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Multi-Sectoral Energy Transformation Pathways: Methodological Approach and Case Study for Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-28, October.
    17. Kai Han & Xuesong Wang & Jiance Jin & Shuai Zhang & Liang Li & Yuzhen Wang & Lixin Ning & Zhiguo Xia, 2025. "Suppressing electron–phonon coupling for narrow-band emitting Eu(II)-based perovskitoids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. Gholami, Alireza & Tokac, Batur & Zhang, Qian, 2024. "Knowledge synthesis on the mine life cycle and the mining value chain to address climate change," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    19. Bingcheng Yu & Jiangjian Shi & Yiming Li & Shan Tan & Yuqi Cui & Fanqi Meng & Huijue Wu & Yanhong Luo & Dongmei Li & Qingbo Meng, 2025. "Regulating three-layer full carbon electrodes to enhance the cell performance of CsPbI3 perovskite solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    20. Rao Fu & Kun Peng & Peng Wang & Honglin Zhong & Bin Chen & Pengfei Zhang & Yiyi Zhang & Dongyang Chen & Xi Liu & Kuishuang Feng & Jiashuo Li, 2023. "Tracing metal footprints via global renewable power value chains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:8:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01503-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.