Selective recovery of metals from spent batteries by carbonthermic reduction simultaneously catalyzing high-performance carbon anode

Abstract

The cathode materials of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the primary focus of research in today’s recycling industry due to their high metal content and high purity. The recovering valuable metals from waste cathode alleviates resource shortage and provide security for human life. This work designed a one-step route to achieve the selective leaching of metals in the LiNi0.3Co0.3Mn0.3O2 (NCM) cathode material and the preparation of high-performance carbon as anode material for LIBs. The biomass carbon source of bagasse as reducing agent disruptes the layered structure of the NCM material during calcination process which facilitates the synthesis of the water-soluble Li2CO3 and enhance the leaching efficiency of Li+ ions. The leaching efficiency of Li element reaches as high as 96.62 % under the optimal condition. At the same time, the carbon source under catalysis by the metals is converted into high-performance anode active material with a specific surface area of 242.85 m2/g and crystal plane spacing of 15.23 nm. The anode in LIBs exhibits a discharge capacity of 532.5 and 224.5 mA g−1 at 0.1C and 3C, respectively. The specific capacity of 486.5 mA g−1 is maintained after 500 cycles at 1C. The full-cells with the carbon material electrodes after prelithium/presodiation also shows excellent cycle stability. This work provides an effective recycling strategy of the valuable metals in waste NCM and an incidental opportunity to the conversion of biomass to anode material for LIBs.