Widespread consumer and municipal adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) directly correlates to the increased demand for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Increasing Li-ion battery production and use presents two challenges: end-of-life (EoL) cathode materials management through recycling and mineral depletion from fast mining. Li-ion batteries are manufactured with hazardous and volatile materials and cannot be sent to landfills. Therefore, recycling is vital in preserving the environment and securing resources. The direct recycling of delithiated method used in this research is a wet chemical separation of spent Li-ion battery electrode materials. Reduction and oxidation reactions at room temperature are advantageous to restore lithium content in the spent Li-ion battery electrode materials. This process recovers the metal contents in the delithiated cathode materials. In addition, this approach is cheaper and generate the least amount of waste. Furthermore, it is viable for materials with lower or no cobalt content, which are considered less profitable when pyrometallurgical and metallurgical battery recycling process is used.

Direct recycling of end-of-life cathode materials by redox mediator chemistry

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.