Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials

Ni-rich LiNi<sub>x</sub>Mn<sub>y</sub>Co<sub>1−x−y</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC) materials have been adopted in a range of applications, including electric vehicles. The recycled NMC material from a spent cell would be much more valuable if it could be upgr...

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Main Authors: W. Blake Hawley, Mengya Li, Jianlin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Batteries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/10/498
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author W. Blake Hawley
Mengya Li
Jianlin Li
author_facet W. Blake Hawley
Mengya Li
Jianlin Li
author_sort W. Blake Hawley
collection DOAJ
description Ni-rich LiNi<sub>x</sub>Mn<sub>y</sub>Co<sub>1−x−y</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC) materials have been adopted in a range of applications, including electric vehicles. The recycled NMC material from a spent cell would be much more valuable if it could be upgraded to a Ni-rich, more energy-dense version of the material. This work demonstrates a simple, inexpensive, and facile method to upcycle LiNi<sub>1/3</sub>Mn<sub>1/3</sub>Co<sub>1/3</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC111, 160 mAh∙g<sup>−1</sup>), a cathode used in early generations of electric vehicle batteries, to LiNi<sub>0.8</sub>Mn<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>0.1</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC811, 190 mAh∙g<sup>−1</sup>), a more energy-dense cathode material. In this study, a preliminary investigation into a room-temperature eutectic synthesis of NMC811 is performed using NMC111, LiOH, and nickel nitrate as precursors. The synthesized material showed the desired crystal structure and stoichiometry, though the cycle life and Li diffusion coefficient need improvement when compared to commercially available NMC811. This study demonstrates an interesting proof of concept of the room-temperature eutectic synthesis process for LIB cathodes and could be improved by tuning the synthesis conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-e95d8bbdefcf4350a431c4dda5b3e4b92023-11-19T15:39:20ZengMDPI AGBatteries2313-01052023-09-0191049810.3390/batteries9100498Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode MaterialsW. Blake Hawley0Mengya Li1Jianlin Li2Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USAOak Ridge National Laboratory, Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USAOak Ridge National Laboratory, Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USANi-rich LiNi<sub>x</sub>Mn<sub>y</sub>Co<sub>1−x−y</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC) materials have been adopted in a range of applications, including electric vehicles. The recycled NMC material from a spent cell would be much more valuable if it could be upgraded to a Ni-rich, more energy-dense version of the material. This work demonstrates a simple, inexpensive, and facile method to upcycle LiNi<sub>1/3</sub>Mn<sub>1/3</sub>Co<sub>1/3</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC111, 160 mAh∙g<sup>−1</sup>), a cathode used in early generations of electric vehicle batteries, to LiNi<sub>0.8</sub>Mn<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>0.1</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC811, 190 mAh∙g<sup>−1</sup>), a more energy-dense cathode material. In this study, a preliminary investigation into a room-temperature eutectic synthesis of NMC811 is performed using NMC111, LiOH, and nickel nitrate as precursors. The synthesized material showed the desired crystal structure and stoichiometry, though the cycle life and Li diffusion coefficient need improvement when compared to commercially available NMC811. This study demonstrates an interesting proof of concept of the room-temperature eutectic synthesis process for LIB cathodes and could be improved by tuning the synthesis conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/10/498eutectic synthesisroom-temperature synthesisNi-rich cathodebattery recyclinglithium-ion battery
spellingShingle W. Blake Hawley
Mengya Li
Jianlin Li
Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
Batteries
eutectic synthesis
room-temperature synthesis
Ni-rich cathode
battery recycling
lithium-ion battery
title Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
title_full Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
title_fullStr Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
title_full_unstemmed Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
title_short Room-Temperature Eutectic Synthesis for Upcycling of Cathode Materials
title_sort room temperature eutectic synthesis for upcycling of cathode materials
topic eutectic synthesis
room-temperature synthesis
Ni-rich cathode
battery recycling
lithium-ion battery
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/10/498
work_keys_str_mv AT wblakehawley roomtemperatureeutecticsynthesisforupcyclingofcathodematerials
AT mengyali roomtemperatureeutecticsynthesisforupcyclingofcathodematerials
AT jianlinli roomtemperatureeutecticsynthesisforupcyclingofcathodematerials