Patent ID: 7972473

Claim:
A method for recycling thin-film solar cell modules, said thin-film solar cell modules including a substrate layer with a superimposed structure of functional layers that has a first electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, a second electrode layer, a plastic layer for encapsulating the aforementioned layers, which plastic layer along a circumferential edge region is joined directly to the substrate layer, enclosing an inner region by the circumferential edge region, and a cover layer, with the substrate layer being transparent to a working laser beam and with the first electrode being able to absorb said working laser beam, comprising scanning a free surface of said substrate layer with a working laser beam, such that said inner region is scanned, which leads to a closed area across which said first electrode layer is at least partially vaporized due to having absorbed said working laser beam, the first electrode layer detaches itself from the substrate layer, as a result of which a closed interspace is formed in which a gas volume that forms is enclosed, said superimposed structure detaching itself from said substrate layer so that said substrate layer, separately from the functional layers that are attached to the plastic layer and the cover layer, is available for separate further processing.