Electrode Material Recovery by Selective Current Collector Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for recovering electrode materials from electricity storage devices, such as lithium-ion secondary batteries, are complex and inefficient, hindering the establishment of a circular economy-oriented recycling technology.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of electrode assemblies or sheets with current collectors and active material layers, followed by immersion in an etchant solution to dissolve the current collectors, allowing for the separation and recovery of electrode active materials, thereby improving the recovery rate compared to scrapping entire batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the entire battery is scrapped and immersed into an etchant solution, then the current collector and active materials are both dissolved, but the recovery rate of electrode material is low and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery recovery process into distinct stages: first removing the current collector through selective etching, then separately recovering the active materials. This segmentation allows for targeted treatment of different components, improving overall recovery efficiency while simplifying the process compared to dissolving the entire battery at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the current collector from the electrode assembly through selective dissolution using etchant solutions that preferentially attack the current collector material (aluminum or copper) while leaving the active materials intact. This extraction enables separate recovery pathways for the current collector and active materials, improving recovery rates.
2Quantity of substance
If acid leaching is used to dissolve all metals, then all metallic elements can be recovered, but the process requires multiple sequential steps and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by selectively removing the current collector before active material recovery. This preliminary step simplifies subsequent processing and allows for more efficient recovery of active materials, reducing the total time required compared to treating all metals simultaneously through multiple sequential leaching steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the etching process by using specific etchant solutions (such as sodium hydroxide for aluminum current collectors or nitric acid for copper current collectors) at controlled concentrations and temperatures. These parameter adjustments enable selective dissolution of the current collector while preserving active materials, streamlining the overall recovery process.
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
This method enhances the recovery rate of electrode materials, achieving a high recovery efficiency of over 95% by selectively dissolving current collectors while preserving active materials, facilitating the recycling and reuse of valuable metals like lithium and cobalt.
Implementation Method 1
a step of dissolving the electrode assembly or the electrode sheet into an etchant solution that dissolves the current collector
Implementation Method 2
a step of separating a precipitate containing the electrode active material from the etchant solution
Data Source
AI summary
A method of recovering electrode materials includes: a preparing step of preparing an electrode assembly or an electrode sheet, the electrode assembly and the electrode sheet including a current collector and an electrode active material layer formed on the current collector and containing an electrode active material; a dissolving step of immersing the electrode assembly or the electrode sheet in an etchant solution that dissolves the current collector; and a separating step of separating a precipitate containing the electrode active material from the etchant solution in which the current collector is dissolved.