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Al Impurity Upcycled High-Voltage Cathodes from Spent LiCoO2 Batteries.
Baichao Zhang1, Shou Chen1, Lu Yang1
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
ACS Nano
|August 14, 2024
Summary
This study transforms harmful aluminum (Al) impurities into beneficial components for recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). By incorporating Al and titanium (Ti) into cobalt oxide cathodes, researchers enhance stability and performance for high-voltage applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Recycling Technology
Background:
- Aluminum (Al) impurity is prevalent in spent lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode powder due to strong adhesion with the Al current collector.
- Conventional hydrometallurgical processes often lead to the loss of valuable metals during Al impurity removal.
- This necessitates innovative strategies for the high-value utilization of Al impurities in LIB recycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To upcycle harmful Al impurity into a beneficial component for high-voltage lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathodes.
- To enhance the structural stability and electrochemical performance of LIB cathodes by incorporating Al and Ti.
- To develop a sustainable strategy for the high-value utilization of spent LIBs.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of Al impurity into the bulk of high-voltage LiCoO2 cathodes via robust Al-O covalent bonds, assisted by Ti modification.
- Utilizing in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) to investigate the suppression of irreversible phase transitions.
- Constructing a Li+-conductive Li2TiO3 protective layer on the cathode surface by pinning Ti at grain boundaries.
Main Results:
- The upcycled R-LCO-AT cathode exhibited suppressed irreversible phase transitions at high voltages due to strong Al-O and Ti-O bonds.
- A Li+-conductive Li2TiO3 protective layer improved Li+ diffusion kinetics and mitigated interface side reactions.
- Enhanced cycle stability and rate performance were achieved, with a discharge capacity of 189.5 mAhg-1 at 1 C and 92.9% retention over 100 cycles at 4.6 V.
Conclusions:
- This study successfully upcycled detrimental Al impurity into a beneficial element for high-voltage LCO cathodes through bulk/surface structural design.
- The developed method offers a promising strategy for the high-value utilization of spent LIBs, addressing both impurity removal and material recovery.
- The incorporation of Al and Ti significantly improves the electrochemical performance and cycle life of LIB cathodes for demanding applications.
