Sustainable Upcycling of Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries Cathode Materials: Stabilization by In Situ Li/Mn Disorder. Issue 26 (27th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Jiao; Fan, Ersha; Zhang, Xiaodong; Li, Zhujie; Dai, Ying; Chen, Renjie; Wu, Feng; Li, Li
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 12:Issue 26(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-05-27
• Subjects: economic and environmental assessment -- in situ Li/Mn disorder -- Mn‐deficiency mechanism -- spent lithium‐ion batteries; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202201174
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: The non‐destructive repair of spent lithium‐ion batteries cathode materials has been the holy grail in the field of waste‐to‐resource research due to the potential for optimal environmental and economic benefits. Here, Mn deficiency and cationic disorder in degraded materials are discovered for the first time and the degraded crystal structure is repaired by the in situ upcycling process using a low‐carbon and economical technique. The repaired disordered LiMn2 O4 (LMO) material can contribute higher capacity and greater stability than ordered LMO materials. This unexpected behavior is attributed to the in‐situ upcycling process that enhances the Li/Mn atomic disorder, thereby altering the electrochemical activity as well as the structural stability of the cathode material. Specifically, the Li/Mn disorder can effectively suppress the Jahn–Teller distortion and two‐phase phase transition and activate the activity of disordered Li, contributing to a stable high discharge capacity of upcycled material. The discovery of the Mn‐deficiency mechanism solves many doubts as to the conventional repair technology and can provide a more adequate theoretical guidance of the development of recycling technology together with the Li‐deficiency mechanism. The atomic disorder structure also provides guidance for the design of battery materials and promotes the sustainable development of future green lithium‐ion batteries. Abstract : Mn deficiency and cationic disorder in degraded materials are discovered for the first time. The degraded LiMn2 O4 (LMO) crystal structure is repaired by an in situ upcycling process, and the repaired disordered LMO material can contribute higher capacity and greater stability (212 mA h g −1 after cycling at 2 C for 100 cycles, 1 C = 148 mA g −1 ).