Simultaneous separation and renovation of lithium cobalt oxide from the cathode of spent lithium ion rechargeable batteries

LiCoO2 cathode material is renovated and simultaneously separated from spent LiCoO2 electrodes containing LiCoO2, electron-conducting carbon, binder, Al current collector, and separator in a single synthetic step using hydrothermal method in a concentrated LiOH solution at 200degreesC without any scraping procedures. It is found that the renovated LiCoO2 phase crystallizes in the rhombohedral system with the space group R-3m. Although the obtained material has some electrochemically inactive impurities, the renovated LiCoO2 phase exhibits the first discharge capacity of 144.0 mAh/g and the discharge capacity retention of 92.2% after 40 cycles. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.