Flux upcycling of spent NMC 111 to nickel-rich NMC cathodes in reciprocal ternary molten salts

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103801
• Publication Date: 2022-01-22T16:39:28Z
• Authors: Tao Wang; Huimin Luo; Juntian Fan; Bishnu P. Thapaliya; Yaocai Bai; Ilias Belharouak; Sheng Dai
• Keywords: Science; Q; Electrochemical energy storage; Energy materials; Materials application; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; Mechanical engineering; Article; 0104 chemical sciences; 12. Responsible consumption

The proper handling of end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has become an urgent and challenging issue with the surging use LIBs, in which recovering high-value cathodes not only relieves pressure on raw material supply chain but also minimizes environmental pollution. Beyond direct recycling spent to their pristine states, upcycling next-generation is great significance maximize value materials sustain fast development LIBs. Herein, a "reciprocal ternary molten salts" (RTMS) system was developed directly upcycle NMC 111 Ni-rich NMCs by simultaneously realizing addition Ni relithiation Li 111. After RTMS flux upcycling, obtained exhibited α-NaFeO2-type layered structure, restored content, excellent performance, very similar that 622.