Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), known for their superior electrochemical performance, are critical components in new energy vehicles and energy storage systems. With the development of the global new energy industry, LIBs, which have a service life of approximately 5 to 8 years, are entering their end-of-life phase. This is expected to generate a large number of spent batteries.
A typical LIB consists mainly of cathodes, anodes, separators, current collectors, and electrolyte. Commercial LIBs primarily use cathode materials like LiCoO 2 , NCM and LiFePO 4 , which contain valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. The electrolyte is usually composed of carbonate solvents and LiPF 6 . Therefore, achieving efficient and low-consumption recycling of this urban mine is important for ensuring resource supply, reducing environmental pollution, and mitigating safety risks.
Recycling spent LIBs, however, is a complex engineering process involving multiple steps, such as pre-treatment, metallurgical extraction, separation, purification, and material regeneration. Although metallurgical routes have matured into established technological pathways and achieve large-scale production, they continue to face challenges posed by the rapidly updating battery materials, increasingly complex compositions, and continuously rising industry standards.
In a recent study led by Prof Zhi Sun from Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a novel mechanical activation assisted strategy, which can achieve the selective extraction of Li + from spent cathode materials with highly utilization efficiency of H + (>97%), was developed obviating the need for auxiliary reagents, and substantially reduces secondary pollutant generation.
The main findings, published in Fundamental Research , outlined:
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Contact the author: Zhi Sun, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, (sunzhi@ipe.ac.cn)
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Fundamental Research
Experimental study
Not applicable
A green recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries with extremely low chemical consumption
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in this work.