A dual-stage skeleton-disruption strategy for the selective recovery of lithium-ion battery cathodes at room temperature by water-containing green solvents

Abstract

The selective recovery of lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathodes with high leaching efficiency and low-energy consumption using water-containing green solvents is challenging. However, to date, there have been limited reports on using water as a green solvent for the selective recovery of LIB cathodes. Here, we propose for the first time a dual-stage skeleton-disruption (DSSD) strategy for the selective recycling of LIB cathodes at room temperature using water-containing green solvents. In the first stage, under temperature conditions of 60 °C for 24 h, the leaching efficiencies of Li, Co, Ni, and Mn from NCM using low-melting mixture solvents reach 91.4%, 1.0%, 30.9%, and 28.7%, and the leaching selectivity ratios of metals are calculated to be 91.4, 30.9, and 28.7, respectively. In the second stage, all the remaining metals in the residue after the first stage can be rapidly and completely dissolved in water at room temperature. The DSSD strategy shows a high level of applicability for common cathodes, such as NCM, LCO and LFP. This work provides a novel and general strategy for the selective recycling of LIB cathode materials with high sustainability and low-energy consumption.