Constructing Robust Cl-Bridge for Ultrafast Leaching of Spent Cathodes in 180 s

Reductive coordination medium, especially Cl^-, play a pivotal role in leaching processes for spent batteries recycling. However, poor mass transfer and limited reducibility of the reactive species often lead to sluggish leaching kinetics of critical metals. Herein, we propose a strategy to construct a robust chloride bridge that enhances the enrichment and reactivity of Cl^- at the solid-liquid reaction interface. Based on this, the developed recycling system with a Cl-SO₃H bridge achieves complete leaching of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn within just 180 s. Specifically, the sulfur atom in the sulfonic acid group exhibits a high electron-donating ability, which enhances the nucleophilicity and reducing capacity of Cl^- within this bridge. This facilitates rapid migration and coordination of Cl^- with metal ions on the spent cathode surface, accelerating the cleavage of metal─oxygen bonds. Furthermore, a closed-loop recycling route based on solvent regeneration and reuse was designed in this work. Compared with conventional hydrometallurgical processes, this system improves the overall economic efficiency of spent battery recycling by nearly fourfold while halving carbon emissions.