How Sharp Cone Electrodes Are Revolutionizing Silver Recovery in Solar Panel Recycling

A Simple Shape Change with Big Impact

Lithium Universe Limited (ASX – LU7), in collaboration with Macquarie University, has announced a significant advancement in the recycling of silver from discarded solar panels. By redesigning the electrode tips used in their electrochemical extraction process; from traditional cylindrical shapes to sharp conical tips; they have unlocked a more efficient and uniform method of silver recovery. This seemingly straightforward engineering tweak leverages fundamental physics to concentrate electric fields, enabling more precise and thorough silver removal.

The research tested various electrode geometries, including blunt and sharp cones, finding that sharp cones with a 45° tip angle delivered superior results. Unlike conventional electrodes that tend to remove silver unevenly; leaving residues especially at the edges; the sharp cone electrodes achieved nearly uniform silver extraction across the entire pad. This reduces waste and increases the purity of recovered silver, a critical factor given silver’s high value and industrial importance.

Commercial and Environmental Significance

Silver accounts for nearly half the material cost of a solar cell, making efficient recovery essential for recycling economics. The breakthrough supports Lithium Universe’s Electro-Jet (EJ) recycling platform, which aims to make solar panel recycling commercially viable and environmentally sustainable. By preserving the adhesion between silver and aluminium busbars, the sharp cone electrodes prevent structural damage, allowing silicon wafers to be reused; an important step toward a circular economy in solar technology.

Moreover, the process maintains stable energy consumption despite concentrating the electric field, ensuring that efficiency gains do not come at the cost of higher operational expenses. The ability to recover up to 75% of silver in just three minutes under standard conditions signals strong potential for scalable industrial adoption.

Context of Rising Silver Demand and Prices

This innovation arrives amid a surge in silver prices, which have climbed nearly 50% year-on-year to over USD 47 per troy ounce, driven by booming demand from solar, electronics, electric vehicles, and AI data centers. Industrial consumption hit record highs in 2024, creating a structural supply deficit that recycling technologies like Lithium Universe’s are well-positioned to address. Efficient recovery from solar waste not only reduces reliance on mining but also taps into a growing secondary source of this precious metal.

Lithium Universe’s broader strategy includes developing a green lithium carbonate refinery in Québec, Canada, and pioneering photovoltaic panel recycling technologies. This silver recovery breakthrough complements those efforts, reinforcing the company’s role in the clean energy transition and resource circularity.

Looking Ahead

While laboratory results are promising, the next challenge lies in scaling this technology to commercial volumes and integrating it into existing recycling infrastructure. The company’s recent site acquisition in Brownsville, Texas, hints at ambitions for industrial deployment. If successful, this could transform solar panel waste from an environmental liability into a valuable resource stream, aligning profitability with sustainability.