A ‘cool’ route to battery electrode material recovery

Abstract

Widespread adoption of alkali metal ion batteries poses a challenge for the recycling industry. Efficient recovery and reuse of valuable metals from end-of-life batteries and production scrap is paramount. A novel, cost-effective, fast, and scalable electrode delamination approach, 'ice-stripping,' is proposed. An electrode is wetted with water and frozen using a cold plate, then peeled. Volume expansion and the increased cohesive strength of the ice over the electrode adhesion results in 100% delamination from the current collector and recovery of electrode coatings with minimal water use, material waste, or damage. In stark contrast to conventional high-temperature methods. Its effectiveness is illustrated with Li-ion and Na-ion battery electrodes comprised of different binder systems, and the scalability is considered for scrap. A direct recycling case study for a Na-ion, hard carbon and Prussian white is presented. This innovation holds promise in meeting the escalating demand for efficient and sustainable battery recycling.