From Waste to Worth: Advances in Anode Graphite Recovery From Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries

Driven by the global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, lithium-ion batteries are vital for clean energy storage. Recycling spent graphite anodes is crucial for resource conservation and emission reduction. However, structural damage during charge-discharge cycles degrades graphite's electrochemical performance, and current regeneration techniques are immature, yielding inferior materials. Traditional recycling methods, particularly pyrometallurgical processes that rely on extreme high temperatures to repair structural defects, are highly energy-intensive. The massive electricity consumption required translates to substantial carbon emissions, making these approaches environmentally harmful and economically unviable, which significantly hinders large-scale adoption. This review systematically summarizes spent graphite recycling, covering failure mechanisms, regeneration strategies, and applications. It highlights key recycling technologies and discusses optimization, industrialization, and reuse prospects. Recycled graphite shows promise in batteries and supercapacitors, offering broad energy-storage potential. Future breakthroughs in efficiency, sustainability, and scalability are expected through new materials, technologies, and policy support. Regenerating spent graphite anodes is essential for resource cycling and carbon neutrality. Technological innovation and industrial collaboration will enable efficient, green, and large-scale graphite recycling, advancing the global energy transition and sustainable development.