(Battery Division Early Career Award Sponsored by Neware Technology Limited) Towards Scalable and Sustainable Battery Recycling for Circular Energy Storage

Abstract

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) and grid storage heavily relies on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that exhibit significantly improved performance, low cost, a reduced carbon footprint, and an abundance of resources. However, the growing consumption of LIBs has led to concerns regarding resource scarcity and price hikes for lithium and critical transition metals (such as Co and Ni) that are essential for LIB production. Currently, the recycling industry utilizes pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes to treat spent batteries. Although these methods are scalable, there is a pressing need for enhanced overall energy efficiency, reduced processing costs, and minimized environmental impact.Next-generation technologies, such as direct recycling, hold promise as a more cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative. However, the scalability of these approaches must be proven at an industrial scale. This presentation aims to delve into the state-of-the-art LIB battery recycling by comparing various technologies. In particular, we will extensively discuss the technical aspects of direct recycling, focusing on different LIB materials. Furthermore, we will address the key challenges and provide insights for the future development of LIB recycling.