Advances in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes: Prospects and Challenges in Recycling

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are already playing a key role in the move from fossil fuels towards clean and renewable energy systems. This is because variabilities in renewable energy grids need to be supported by very stable storage mechanisms (batteries). In electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are also very important and determine applicability on the target vehicle. At their end-of-life, substances contained in them make it impossible to be discarded in an uncontrolled way. Moreover, the batteries contain critical metals that need to be recovered. While there are currently numerous studies on recycling of the cathode materials, there is very scarce research on how electrolytes impact recycling. This research reviews and enumerates on the advances in lithium-ion battery electrolytes in the context of recycling.