Sustainable Direct Recycling of Lithium‐Ion Batteries via Solvent Recovery of Electrode Materials

• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202001479
• Publication Date: 2020-07-31T17:53:27Z
• Authors: Yaocai Bai; Nitin Muralidharan; Jianlin Li; Rachid Essehli; Ilias Belharouak
• Keywords: Environmentally Friendly

Abstract Separation of electrode materials from their current collectors is an enabling step toward recovering critical spent lithium‐ion batteries. In the presented research, a highly efficient, cost‐effective, and environmentally sustainable separation process was developed for that purpose. Ethylene glycol, vital commodity chemical as antifreeze polymer precursor, used to delaminate at low temperatures in seconds without altering crystalline structure morphology active materials. The recovered were intact any corrosion. authors also found solvent could be continuously reused, leading development closed‐loop ecosystem battery circular economy. ultrafast delamination driven by competitive inhibition binding through weakening hydrogen bonding. ethylene glycol‐based recovery paves way recycling.