Electrolytic recovery of metals from lithium battery cathodes in moisture-tolerant molten hydroxide salt

Lichtenstein, Timothy; Gesualdi, Jarrod; Stariha, Sarah A.; Moore, Colin E.

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144866

Electrolytic recovery of metals from lithium battery cathodes in moisture-tolerant molten hydroxide salt

Journal Article · Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Electrochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144866· OSTI ID:2574046

^[1]; Gesualdi, Jarrod ^[1]; Stariha, Sarah A. ^[2]; ^[2]

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Honeywell UOP, Des Plaines, IL (United States)

Lithium-ion battery recycling offers an opportunity to develop innovative technologies to close the loop on the battery materials cycle and increase the resilience of the battery supply chain. Here, in this study, we demonstrate a two-step pyroelectrochemical method for producing mixed-metals from lithium-ion cathodes in a molten hydroxide salt. Mixed metal oxides in the form of insoluble lithium-ion cathode materials of LiNi_0.6Mn_0.2Co_0.2O₂ (NMC622) and spent lithium-ion battery materials (black mass) were electrochemically reduced to a soluble form and dissolved into a molten hydroxide salt bath. Electrochemical characterization of the process salt indicated accumulation of dissolved transition metals in the salt. A separate cathode was used to produce alloys of Ni, Mn, and Co electrochemically from the dissolved lithium-ion cathode materials. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy fitted with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer showed transition metals present in the cathode materials were recovered at the separate cathode. This approach represents a scalable, low temperature pyroelectrochemical process that can potentially reduce the cost and close the loop of battery cathode recycling.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 2574046

Journal Information:: Electrochimica Acta, Journal Name: Electrochimica Acta Vol. 503; ISSN 0013-4686

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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