Cathode electrolysis for the comprehensive recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries

Clean lithium-ion battery recycling is indispensable to make the battery market sustainable. Here, we develop an electrochemical approach to separate the cathode film (6 cm x 20 cm) from the Al substrate and simultaneously leach Li and transition metals from the cathode film in 0.5 M H2SO4, leaving behind the conductive carbon and polyvinylidene fluoride binder that are reusable. For LiCoO2 batteries, LiCoO2 was converted to soluble Li+ and Co2+ with a leaching efficiency of over 97%. Besides, the cathode electrolysis is applicable to treat LiMn2O4 and LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2. Overall, the cathode electrolysis employs electrons as both reducing agents and exfoliation force, offering a promising pathway to comprehensively reclaim all components from spent cathodes with limited secondary wastes and energy consumption.

Automated summary

Clean lithium-ion battery recycling is crucial for a sustainable battery market. This study presents an electrochemical approach that can separate the cathode film and dissolve metals, allowing for the recovery of reusable materials. The method is applicable to various types of batteries and offers efficient recycling.