Scalable Direct Recycling of Cathode Black Mass from Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Gupta, Varun; Yu, Xiaolu; Gao, Hongpeng; Brooks, Christopher; Li, Weikang; Chen, Zheng

doi:10.1002/aenm.202203093

Scalable Direct Recycling of Cathode Black Mass from Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Journal Article · 23 December 2022 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202203093· OSTI ID:2424595

Gupta, Varun ^[1]; Yu, Xiaolu ^[1]; Gao, Hongpeng ^[1]; Brooks, Christopher ^[2]; Li, Weikang ^[3]; ^[4]

Program of Materials Science and Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA
Honda Development and Manufacturing of America North American Auto Development Center 21001 OH‐739 Raymond OH 43067–9705 USA
Department of NanoEngineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA
Program of Materials Science and Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA; Department of NanoEngineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA; Program of Chemical Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

Abstract

End of life (EoL) lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are piling up at an intimidating rate, which is alarming for environmental health. With further expected rapid growth of LIB use, the magnitude of spent battery accumulation is also expected to grow. LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂(NCM) cathode materials are a dominant chemistry in high energy LIBs, and make up a huge portion of this waste accumulation. Direct recycling is one of the most promising ways to turn this waste to wealth, but has been limited to lab‐scale, due to lack of robustness, namely the tedious pretreatment required that involves toxic organic solvents. Herein, a process that integrates the pretreatment and relithiation of the cathode black mass is demonstrated. Cathode material from EoL electric vehicle (EV) batteries is treated in a 100 g per batch operation and the regenerated cathode active material demonstrates 100% electrochemical performance recovery, with 91% yield rate, and shows promise for further scale up. This process has the advantages of integration, scalability, and universality, which clears the barricade for direct recycling to move from lab to industry scale with considerable profitability.

Research Organization:: Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: NONE;

OSTI ID:: 2424595

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 13; ISSN 1614-6832

Publisher:: Wiley

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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