Boosting efficient and low-energy solid phase regeneration for single crystal LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 via highly selective leaching and its industrial application

Abstract

The proliferation of energy storage and power devices has led to an explosion in the number of spent batteries needing regeneration or safe and sustainable disposal. However, traditional solid-phase and hydrometallurgical leaching approaches to regeneration are characterized by high energy consumption, long processing routes, and the generation of a lot of waste solvents. To solve these problems, in this paper, we report an efficient and low-energy strategy for regenerating high nickel LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 materials based on selective leaching that is effective even under non-optimal leaching conditions. Leaching repairs the collapsed crystal structure and removes the impurity phases of the spent LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2, and the solid–liquid mixture does not need complex treatment, making the process energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. The resynthesized single crystal LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 displays an initial specific discharge capacity of 179.2 mAh·g−1 and retains 90.7% of its capacity at 0.2C after 150 cycles, which is comparable to the performance of commercial materials. This method can accurately replenish the lithium lost from spent materials and repair the damaged crystal structure, improving lithium-ion transport and recycling the spent battery for industrial applications.