Ternary Cathode Micropowder Recycling via Hydrothermal Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of micropowder during the cathode material manufacturing process results in waste, which compromises the cycling performance of lithium-ion batteries if not properly managed, and existing methods for handling this waste are inefficient and economically unbeneficial.
Innovation Solution
A recycling method involving mixing ternary material micropowder with water, adding a coating agent and promotor, subjecting the mixture to high-pressure hydrothermal reaction, filtering and sintering, and then drying and sieving to produce a ternary cathode material with enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If micropowder is discarded as waste, then production cost is reduced, but resource loss increases and economic value is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers micropowder that would otherwise be discarded as waste during cathode material production. The process collects micropowder generated during crushing operations and transforms it into usable cathode material through coating, hydrothermal treatment, and sintering, thereby preventing substance loss and recovering economic value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of micropowder (which degrades battery performance when admixed) into a beneficial outcome by developing a specialized treatment process. The micropowder is transformed into a distinct product with controlled properties through coating agents and hydrothermal processing, turning a performance-destroying contaminant into a valuable resource.
2Productivity
If micropowder is admixed into finished product, then production efficiency is improved, but cycling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating micropowder differently from bulk material. Instead of uniformly mixing micropowder into finished products, the invention applies specific coating agents and hydrothermal treatments only to micropowder particles, giving them distinct surface properties and internal structures that prevent performance degradation while maintaining production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the handling process into distinct pathways: bulk material undergoes conventional processing while micropowder receives specialized treatment including coating, hydrothermal processing, and controlled sintering. This segmentation allows each particle size fraction to be optimized independently, preventing the performance issues that arise from uniform mixing.
3Quantity of substance
If complex recycling process is applied, then micropowder valorization is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into an integrated process flow. The coating step, hydrothermal treatment, and sintering are combined in a sequence that can be implemented using standard equipment already present in cathode material factories, avoiding the need for complex specialized apparatus while achieving complete micropowder valorization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively recycles micropowder into a high-value cathode material with improved performance, reducing residual lithium and optimizing storage properties, while being economically advantageous and easy to implement.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the second slurry to a reaction under heating and pressurization
Implementation Method 2
adding water to the micropowder filter cake, and stirring a resulting mixture during which a coating agent and a promotor are added
Implementation Method 3
subjecting the coated base material to sintering
Implementation Method 4
mixing a ternary material micropowder with water, stirring a resulting mixture for a specified time to obtain a first slurry
Implementation Method 5
subjecting the second slurry to a reaction under heating and pressurization, and filtering to obtain a coated base material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a recycling method of a ternary material micropowder, and use thereof. The recycling method includes: washing the ternary material micropowder with water, and adding a coating agent and an promotor; subjecting a resulting mixture to a reaction under heating and pressurization, and filtering to obtain a coated base material; subjecting the coated base material to sintering, adding an extracting agent to a resulting sintered material, and stirring and filtering to obtain a filter residue; and subjecting the filter residue to drying, sieving, and iron removal to obtain a ternary cathode material. In the present disclosure, the coating agent and the promotor are added to achieve high-pressure hydrothermal coating for the micropowder. The coating agent can optimize the storage performance of the material and increase the life of the material.