Coated Cathode Relithiation Without Sintering in Battery Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion battery recycling methods face inefficiencies due to the sensitivity of nickel-containing positive-electrode materials to reducing factors, leading to potential decomposition and reduced electrode performance, and existing processes often require sintering steps that increase costs and reduce recycling speed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an oxidizing agent into the hydrothermal relithiation treatment solution for lithium-ion battery recycling, which helps maintain metal ions in their desired oxidation states and avoids the need for subsequent sintering, thereby enhancing the recycling efficiency and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrothermal relithiation treatment is used without oxidizing agents, then the process is simpler, but nickel-containing positive-electrode materials decompose and electrode performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
An oxidizing agent is introduced as an intermediary substance in the hydrothermal relithiation treatment solution. This oxidizing agent mediates between the nickel-containing positive-electrode material and the reducing factors present in the system, preventing decomposition by maintaining nickel in its desired oxidation state while allowing the relithiation process to proceed effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical composition parameter of the hydrothermal treatment solution is changed by adding oxidizing agents. This parameter change transforms the chemical environment from one that causes nickel decomposition to one that stabilizes nickel, thereby improving electrode performance without significantly complicating the overall process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sintering steps are included in the recycling process, then material stability is improved, but processing time increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The desired oxidation state of nickel is established preliminarily during the hydrothermal relithiation treatment by including oxidizing agents in the solution. This preliminary oxidation action eliminates the need for subsequent sintering steps that would otherwise be required to stabilize the material, thereby reducing processing time and costs while maintaining material stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical parameters of the hydrothermal treatment are modified by adding oxidizing agents, which changes the outcome of the treatment from requiring post-processing sintering to achieving stable, sintering-free recycled electrode material. This parameter change directly addresses both material stability and processing efficiency.
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 use of oxidizing agents during hydrothermal treatment stabilizes nickel in positive-electrode materials, preventing decomposition and improving the recycling efficiency, resulting in higher capacity and voltage stability of the recycled electrodes, while reducing operating costs and processing time.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an oxidizing agent into the hydrothermal relithiation treatment solution for lithium-ion battery recycling, which helps maintain metal ions in their desired oxidation states
Implementation Method 2
relithiating the positive-electrode material in a solution comprising lithium ions and an oxidizing agent
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed of methods to recycle coated positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. One example provides a method including relithiating the coated positive-electrode material in a solution comprising lithium ions, and after relithiating, separating the coated positive-electrode material from the solution. In some examples, coated positive-electrode materials may be reinstated using lower process temperatures than uncoated positive-electrode material.