Complete Metal Recycling from Lithium-Ion Batteries Enabled by Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst Reconstruction
Yuan Zhang1, Junyan Li2, Wenru Zhao3, Tianran Yan4, Liang Zhang4, Wei Zhang1,5*（张伟）, Donghai Mei（梅东海）3*, Jihong Yu2*（于吉红）
1Innovation Center for Chemical Science, College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China;
2State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
3School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, P. R. China
4 Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
5Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123 Jiangsu, P. R. China
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 27740−27747
Abstract: Mass adoption of electric vehicles and the depletion of finite metal resources make it imperative to recycle lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, current recycling routes of pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy are mainly developed for LiCoO2 and suffer from great energy inputs and extensive processing; thus, alternative versatile and green approaches are in urgent demand. Here, we report an ingenious and versatile strategy for recycling LIBs via catalyst reconstruction, using hydrogen evolution reaction as a proof of concept. Layered, spinel, and polyanion oxide cathode materials, as catalysts, are structurally transformed into hydroxides assisted by protons or hydroxide ions, facilitating complete metal extraction (e.g., Li, Co, Ni, Mn, Fe) with high leaching efficiencies approaching 100%. This recycling method is generally applicable to almost all commercial cathode systems and extended to actual spent pouch cells. Such a green hydrogen coupling approach provides a versatile and sustainable alternative to conventional approaches and has a broad impact beyond battery recycling.
链接：//pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c10188
