Efficient Direct Recycling of Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes by Targeted Healing

Recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is an urgent need to address their environmental and global sustainability issues. Here, we report an efficient and environmentally benign LIB regeneration method based on defect-targeted healing, which represents a paradigm-shift LIB recycling strategy. Specifically, by combining low-temperature aqueous solution relithiation and rapid post-annealing, we demonstrate successful direct regeneration of spent LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes, one of the most important materials for EVs and grid storage applications. We show revitalization of composition, structure, and electrochemical performance of LFP with various degradation conditions to the same levels as the pristine LFP. Life-cycle analysis of different LIB recycling processes shows that this defect-targeted direct reycling approach can significantly reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to more economic and environmental benefits compared with today’s hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods.