Direct lithium extraction from spent batteries for efficient lithium recycling.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• The expanding lithium-ion battery (LIB) market necessitates sustainable lithium resource management.
• Efficient recycling of retired LIBs is crucial for resource conservation and environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, efficient, and low-energy method for extracting active lithium from spent LIBs.
• To investigate the mechanism of lithium extraction and its correlation with redox potential.
• To demonstrate the viability of using recycled lithium for fabricating high-performance battery cathodes.

Main Methods:

• A room-temperature chemical leaching process using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ether solvents.
• Electrochemical analysis to elucidate the lithium extraction mechanism.
• Fabrication and performance testing of LiFePO4 cathodes and 56 Ah prismatic cells using recycled lithium.

Main Results:

• Successful extraction of active lithium with high efficiency at room temperature.
• Reclaimed lithium used to create LiFePO4 cathodes with performance comparable to commercial materials.
• Demonstrated stable cycling performance in 56 Ah prismatic cells, retaining ~90% capacity after 1200 cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed chemical leaching method offers a sustainable and economically viable approach for LIB recycling.
• This technique has the potential to redefine LIB recycling strategies and support sustainable industrial development.
• The process highlights the feasibility of closing the loop for lithium resources in battery manufacturing.