Method, device, computer program and computer-readable storage medium for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil

Abstract

In a method for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil, a comminuted cathode electrode foil is provided, wherein the comminuted cathode electrode foil has a binder and an active material layer. The comminuted cathode electrode foil is treated in a plasma furnace by means of a plasma gas in order to decompose the binder of the comminuted cathode electrode foil. During the treatment by means of the plasma gas the comminuted cathode electrode foil is additionally mechanically processed in order to separate the active material layer from the comminuted cathode electrode foil.

Description

[0001] 24-1548

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] Method, apparatus, computer program and computer-readable storage medium for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil

[0005] A method for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil is described. Furthermore, a device for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil is described. Additionally, a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium are described.

[0006] Recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial to meeting the growing demand for rare and valuable raw materials and minimizing the environmental impact of the battery lifecycle. Direct recycling offers several advantages over conventional hydro- and pyrometallurgical processes, such as energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and higher recycling rates. This requires removing the electrode coating from the conductive foils to achieve a pure, single-material separation.

[0007] One task to be solved is to help separate an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil.

[0008] This task is solved by the method and subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments, implementations, and further developments are the subject of the respective dependent patent claims.

[0009] First, the process for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil is explained.

[0010] The process provides a comminuted cathode electrode foil, wherein the comminuted cathode electrode foil comprises a binder and an active material layer. 24-1548

[0011] - 2 -

[0012] The cathode electrode foil is shredded, for example.

[0013] The binder includes, in particular, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

[0014] The active material layer includes, for example, lithium cobalt dioxide (e.g., LiCoO2), lithium manganese (e.g., LiMnO2 / LiMn2O4), lithium nickel manganese cobalt (e.g.,

[0015] LiNixMnyCozO2), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum (e.g., LiNixCoyAlzO2), lithium iron phosphate (e.g., LiFePO4) and / or lithium manganese iron phosphate (e.g.,

[0016] LiMnxFeyPO4).

[0017] The shredded cathode electrode foil is treated in a plasma furnace using a plasma gas to decompose the binder of the shredded cathode electrode foil.

[0018] During treatment with plasma gas, the shredded cathode electrode foil is additionally mechanically processed to separate the active material layer from the shredded cathode electrode foil.

[0019] To implement direct electrode recycling, the electrode coating must be removed and separated from the current collectors. The goal is to minimize the level of metallic impurities in the removed coating while simultaneously preventing side reactions with the materials present. Thermal processes for decomposing the binder release hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas, leading to undesirable side reactions. However, purely mechanical processes, without binder decomposition, achieve lower removal rates but result in increased levels of metallic impurities.

[0020] According to the invention, both plasma treatment and mechanical treatment are performed.

[0021] By using a plasma-assisted delamination process, the 24-1548 can be achieved at low thermal stress on the material through the generation of radicals.

[0022] - 3 -

[0023] Removal of the H and F atoms in the PVDF chain is made possible. These can be removed, for example, by continuous rinsing.

[0024] This allows the decomposition of the binder and consequently a simplified removal of the material by mechanical treatment with minimized reaction of HF with the active material.

[0025] Thus, a high yield can be achieved in recycling using this method, and the material can be directly fed back into an electrode production process.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the method, the plasma furnace comprises a rotating drum and the mechanical processing comprises processing by means of the rotating drum.

[0027] Plasma treatment can be easily combined with mechanical treatment, especially using a rotating drum.

[0028] The rotating drum comprises, in particular, a rotatable, partially cylindrical and / or spherical body into which the shredded cathode electrode foil can be poured and in which it can be mechanically processed by rotating the drum. The body further comprises, in particular, one or more sieves to separate the components of the cathode electrode foil from one another.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the method, the mechanical processing includes sieving and / or screening.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the method, the plasma gas comprises argon and / or oxygen.

[0031] Argon and / or oxygen are particularly suitable plasma gases to enable the removal of H and F atoms in the PVDF chain and thus destroy the binder. 24-1548

[0032] - 4 -

[0033] The invention is further characterized by a device, wherein the device is configured to carry out the described method or an embodiment of the method using a plasma furnace.

[0034] Furthermore, a computer program product is specified, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause it to perform the procedure described herein using a plasma oven.

[0035] Furthermore, a computer-readable storage medium is specified on which the computer program described here is stored.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawing.

[0037] It shows:

[0038] Figure 1 shows a flowchart for the separation of an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a program for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil.

[0040] The procedure can be carried out, for example, by means of a control device 10.

[0041] The control device 10 comprises, in particular, a processing unit, a program and data memory, and, for example, one or more communication interfaces. The program and data memory and / or the processing unit and / or the communication interfaces can be integrated into a single unit and / or distributed across multiple units. The control device 10 is, in particular, signal-coupled to a plasma furnace for controlling the plasma furnace. 24-1548

[0042] - 5 -

[0043] The control device 10 can also be described as a device for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil.

[0044] The program for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil is stored in particular on the program and data memory of the control device 10.

[0045] The program is started in step S1, in which variables can be initialized if necessary.

[0046] In step S3, a crushed cathode electrode foil is provided, wherein the crushed cathode electrode foil has a binder and an active material layer.

[0047] For example, the cathode electrode foil is first shredded and then poured / transported into the plasma furnace.

[0048] The plasma furnace includes, in particular, a rotating drum. The rotating drum specifically comprises a rotatable, partially cylindrical and / or spherical body into which the shredded cathode electrode foil can be poured and in which it can be mechanically processed by rotating the drum. The body further includes, in particular, one or more sieves for separating the components of the cathode electrode foil from one another.

[0049] The binder of the comminuted cathode electrode foil comprises, in particular, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The active material layer of the comminuted cathode electrode foil comprises, for example, lithium cobalt dioxide (e.g., LiCoO2), lithium manganese (e.g., LiMnO2 / LiMn2O4), lithium nickel manganese cobalt (e.g., LiNiXMnyCozO2), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum (e.g., LiNiXCoYAlzO2), lithium iron phosphate (e.g., LiFePO4), and / or lithium manganese iron phosphate (e.g., LiMnXFeYPO4). 24-1548

[0050] - 6 -

[0051] In step S5, the shredded cathode electrode foil is treated in the plasma furnace using a plasma gas to decompose the binder of the shredded cathode electrode foil.

[0052] In this process, a plasma is generated in the plasma furnace using the plasma gas, which helps to decompose the binder, in particular by removing the H and F atoms in the PVDF chain of the binder.

[0053] The plasma gas includes, in particular, argon and / or oxygen.

[0054] Simultaneously, in step S5, mechanical processing is carried out in the plasma furnace, in particular the rotation of the rotating drum. This detaches the active material layer from the cathode electrode foil, as the binder is simultaneously decomposed by the plasma treatment.

[0055] Furthermore, sieving or screening can be carried out to separate the components of the cathode electrode foil from each other.

[0056] In step S7, the program is terminated and can be restarted in step S1 if necessary.

[0057] The program helps to decompose the binder of the cathode foil, thereby simplifying the removal of the active material through mechanical treatment while minimizing the reaction of RF with the active material. The active materials can then be reintroduced into the production process.

[0058] 24-1548

[0059] - 7 -

[0060] Reference symbol list

[0061] S1-S7 steps

[0062] 10 Control device

Claims

24-1548 - 8 - Patent claims 1. Method for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil, wherein - a crushed cathode electrode foil is provided, wherein the crushed cathode electrode foil comprises a binder and an active material layer, - the shredded cathode electrode foil is treated in a plasma furnace using a plasma gas to decompose the binder of the shredded cathode electrode foil, - the crushed cathode electrode foil is additionally mechanically processed during treatment with the plasma gas to separate the active material layer from the crushed cathode electrode foil.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the plasma furnace comprises a rotating drum and the mechanical processing comprises processing by means of the rotating drum.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical processing comprises sieving and / or screening.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plasma gas comprises argon and / or oxygen.

5. Device for separating an active material layer from a cathode electrode foil, wherein the device comprises a control unit and a plasma furnace, wherein the device is configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

6. Computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause it to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 using a plasma oven. 24-1548 - 9 - 7. Computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 using a plasma furnace.

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