Toward Sustainable All Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries: Perspectives on Battery Technology and Recycling Processes

Lithium (Li)-based batteries are gradually evolving from the liquid to the solid state in terms of safety and energy density, where all solid-state Li-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) are considered the most promising candidates. This is demonstrated by the Bluecar electric vehicle produced by the Bollore Group, which is utilized in car-sharing services in several cities worldwide. Despite impressive progress in the development of ASSLMBs, their avenues for recycling them remain underexplored, and combined with the current explosion of spent Li-ion batteries, they should attract widespread interest from academia and industry. Here, the potential challenges of recycling ASSLMBs as compared to Li-ion batteries are analyzed and the current progress and prospects for recycling ASSLMBs are summarized and analyzed. Drawing on the lessons learned from Li-ion battery recycling, it is important to design sustainable recycling technologies before ASSLMBs gain widespread market adoption. A battery-recycling-oriented design is also highlighted for ASSLMBs to promote the recycling rate and maximize profitability. Finally, future research directions, challenges, and prospects are outlined to provide strategies for achieving sustainable development of ASSLMBs. All solid-state Li-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) show promising potential for using in future energy storage devices. However, underexplored recycling aspects for ASSLMBs greatly restrict their sustainable development. Here, recent advancements in recycling technology and potentially viable recycling concepts for ASSLMBs are summarized, along with a discussion on recycling-oriented battery design. Future directions and perspectives for sustainable ASSLMBs operation are discussed.image

Automated summary

Lithium-based batteries are transitioning from liquid to solid state, with all solid-state Li-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) being the most promising candidates. This paper analyzes the challenges, progress, and prospects of recycling ASSLMBs, highlighting the importance of sustainable recycling technologies and designing battery-recycling-oriented ASSLMBs. Future research directions, challenges, and strategies for achieving sustainable development of ASSLMBs are outlined.