Battery deactivation with redox shuttles for safe and efficient recycling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Safe recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) requires effective deactivation.
• Conventional methods like external short-circuiting are ineffective for damaged or lithium-plated LIBs, posing safety risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, safe, and effective deactivation method for spent LIBs.
• To address the limitations of conventional deactivation techniques for LIBs with compromised electrical integrity.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of redox shuttles (RSs) with specific redox potentials into LIBs.
• Electrochemical induction of an internal short circuit using RSs like ferrocene or phenothiazine.
• Monitoring the discharge process and lithium dissolution/redeposition.

Main Results:

• The proposed RS method effectively discharges fully charged LIBs to approximately 0 V.
• RSs facilitate the dissolution of deposited lithium from the negative electrode.
• Lithium ions are effectively returned to the positive electrode, improving collection rates.

Conclusions:

• The redox shuttle deactivation method offers a safer alternative for spent LIB recycling.
• This approach enhances the safety and lithium collection efficiency in battery recycling processes.
• The method promotes the overall sustainability of lithium-ion battery lifecycles.