Waste Battery Graphite Oxygen Reduction Catalyst via Fe-N Carbonization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recycling waste lithium-ion battery negative electrodes primarily focus on direct activation and reuse, lacking efficient processes to convert these materials into valuable oxygen reduction catalysts.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the collection and heat treatment of graphite particles from waste battery negative electrodes, followed by ball-milling with an iron salt and nitrogenous organic compound, and subsequent carbonization treatments to produce an oxygen reduction catalyst.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If graphite from waste battery negative electrodes is directly activated and repaired for continuous use as negative electrodes, then the recycling process is simple, but the economic value and resource utilization efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms graphite particles through controlled oxidation (introducing oxygen-containing functional groups) and subsequent reduction treatments, changing the chemical parameters of the material to create catalysts with enhanced oxygen reduction activity, thereby increasing resource utilization value
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts waste graphite particles from degraded battery negative electrodes into valuable oxygen reduction catalysts by applying chemical treatment processes, transforming a low-value waste stream into a high-value catalytic material for fuel cells
2Reliability
If conventional catalysts are used for oxygen reduction, then catalytic activity is sufficient, but the cost is high and environmental pollution occurs during production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive conventional catalysts with cost-effective graphite-based catalysts derived from waste materials, achieving comparable catalytic performance at lower cost and with reduced environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers and revalues graphite materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste from battery recycling, creating a circular economy approach that reduces both cost and environmental pollution
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 resulting oxygen reduction catalyst exhibits high catalytic activity, comparable to Pt/C catalysts, with initial potential, half-wave potential, and limiting current density values that meet industry standards.
Implementation Method 1
performing heat treatment on the graphite particles
Implementation Method 2
ball-milling the graphite particles after heat treatment, an iron salt and a nitrogenous organic compound
Implementation Method 3
performing carbonization treatment on the catalyst precursor in an inert atmosphere to obtain a carbon-based mixture containing iron and nitrogen
Implementation Method 4
dissolving the carbon-based mixture containing iron and nitrogen in an acid solution
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention pertains to the field of catalysts. Disclosed is a method for preparing an oxygen reduction catalyst employing graphite of a negative electrode of a waste battery. The method comprises the following steps: (1) recovering graphite slag from a waste battery, then performing heat treatment on the graphite slag; (2) performing ball-milling and mixing on the treated graphite slag, an iron salt, and a nitrogenous organic compound to acquire a catalyst precursor; (3) performing carbonization treatment on the catalyst precursor in an inert gas atmosphere to acquire a carbon-based mixture comprising iron and nitrogen; and (4) dissolving the carbon-based mixture comprising iron and nitrogen in an acid solution, performing filtration and drying, performing carbonization treatment again in an inert gas atmosphere, so as to acquire an oxygen reduction catalyst employing graphite of a negative electrode of a waste battery. The invention uses graphite slag generated in a recovery process of a waste lithium ion battery as a raw material. The graphite slag is widely available, and has low costs. The invention reduces environmental pollution, and has economic benefits.