Mechanoregeneration of NCM523 cathode material from spent Li-ion batteries

• NCM523 material was regenerated from the spent Li-ion batteries (18650) by the mechanochemical method. • The layered crystal structure of NCM523 was obtained by special precursors and at proper synthesis conditions. • The regenerated NCM523 material exhibited a discharge capacity of ∼155 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C, retained 84.6% of its capacity after 100 cycles at 0.5C. In this work, the NCM523 (LiNi₀.₅Co₀.₂Mn₀.₃O₂) material was regenerated by recovering the precursor materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. The high-purity metal precursors were obtained using a selective oxalate leaching method, which was subsequently processed through ball milling and calcination under various milling and calcination conditions. According to X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical results, the NCM523 material, characterized by a layered crystal structure, limited cation mixing, and high crystallinity, was obtained by milling Ni 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O and Li 2 CO 3 for 20 hours and subsequently calcining at 750°C. The mechanoregenerated NCM523 exhibited a discharge capacity of ∼155 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C, retained 84.6% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles at 0.5C, and demonstrated good rate performance, which was comparable to that of fresh NCM523 material.