Graphene from Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

The fascinating properties of graphene continue to offer new dimensions in scientific research, extending its exploration in a wide range of real‐world applications. At the same time, serious bottlenecks like low quality, high cost, negative reaction conditions, agglomeration of nanosheets, and limited mass production for graphene must be resolved in favor of industrialization. Consequently, utilization of large amounts of waste graphite from spent lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) offers a great opportunity to produce graphene and its derivatives to partake in waste management and circular economy. This work sketches the progress in the different recycling techniques for the graphite anode from spent LIBs and their reuse in different applications. We believe our perspective can facilitate researchers/industries in the better reuse of graphite as valuable sources for the preparation of graphene in a high production capacity by breaking down the existing obstacles in the recycling process as well as helping to handle the upcoming massive volume of spent LIBs.

Prospects for managing end‐of‐life lithium‐ion batteries: Present and future

“…They can be used as raw materials with low requirements for electrochemical performance, or they can be used to prepare value‐added graphene. [ 81–83 ] Electrolyte recovery techniques include organic solvent extraction, vacuum pyrolysis, and carbon dioxide supercritical extraction. [ 84–88 ] More recently, Zhao et al [ 89 ] took a convenient approach to dismantle spent LIBs straightforwardly in water by abandoning the cumbersome process.…”

Sustainable Upcycling of Spent Electric Vehicle Anodes into Solution-Processable Graphene Nanomaterials

“…Liquid-phase exfoliation techniques have recently been applied to anode graphite recovered from lithium-ion batteries in electronic devices to synthesize graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The techniques vary from ultrasonication-assisted, mixed chemical–mechanical approaches, and entirely chemical exfoliation methods. − However, challenges remain, particularly around the environmental sustainability of processes that can convert lithium-ion anodes to graphene, GO, and rGO materials …”

“…14−16 However, challenges remain, particularly around the environmental sustainability of processes that can convert lithium-ion anodes to graphene, GO, and rGO materials. 17 Previous approaches have required the use of either toxic solvents (e.g., NMP) in the treatment/pretreatment step or methods that were based on other chemical processes (e.g., modified Hummer's method). In this work, we explore the use of high-shear exfoliation, without harsh chemicals or toxic solvents, to produce solution-processable graphene nanomaterials that are then used to fabricate paper-based electronic devices.…”

“… 14 − 16 However, challenges remain, particularly around the environmental sustainability of processes that can convert lithium-ion anodes to graphene, GO, and rGO materials. 17 …”

Sustainable up-cycling of spent electric vehicle anodes into solution processable graphene nanomaterials

“…[12][13][14] Challenges remain, however, particularly around the environmental sustainabil-ity of processes that can convert lithium-ion anodes into graphene, GO, and rGO materials. 15 Previous approaches have required the use of either toxic solvents (e.g. NMP) in the treatment/pre-treatment step, or are based on other chemical processes (e.g.…”