{"id":30850,"date":"2022-12-16T15:10:12","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T16:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peymantaeidi.net\/stem-cell\/?p=30850"},"modified":"2022-12-16T16:48:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T16:48:40","slug":"green-graphene-recycling-spent-lithium-ion-batteries-to-recover-valuable-metal-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peymantaeidi.net\/stem-cell\/2022\/12\/16\/green-graphene-recycling-spent-lithium-ion-batteries-to-recover-valuable-metal-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Graphene: Recycling Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries to Recover Valuable Metal Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are ubiquitous in today\u2019s world. They are scattered around our homes, powering numerous domestic appliances and devices; they power our smartphones and wearables. Li-ion batteries have also helped drive the battery revolution in electric vehicle (EV) technology.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n

Image Credit: Immersion Imagery\/Shutterstock.com<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

However, when they come to the end of their service life or fail, there is the major issue of waste. Recycling Li-ion batteries is one option, but most existing processes require chemical extraction processes and expert technicians and can pose an environmental risk during processing.<\/p>\n

This also leads to increased costs and time when it comes to relying on existing methods. However, a team of researchers at Rice University<\/a> has developed a rapid green recycling method that is able to make key battery components available for reuse.<\/p>\n

Working from the Rice lab of Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science, and Nanotechnology, James Tour believes that they have a solution that leverages a novel \u201cflash\u201d Joule heating process they developed, which produces graphene from waste.<\/p>\n

Lithium-Anode Revival<\/h2>\n

In a paper published in the journal Advanced Materials<\/a><\/em>, the team explains how they recalibrated the flash joule process to revive graphite anode materials found in Li-ion batteries and eliminate impurities so that they can be reused over and over.<\/p>\n

The team hopes their green flash joule process could address the challenges faced when it comes to recycling Li-ion batteries. Li-ion batteries cannot be handled like traditional electronic waste, as lithium is a highly reactive element.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe production of lithium-ion batteries in 2026 is expected to be five times what it was in 2017, and right now, less than 5% of them are recycled<\/em>,\u201d explains Professor James Tour, who introduced the flash process for graphene in 2020.<\/p>\n

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That puts a heavy load on the environment, as these spent batteries are processed, and the anodes burned for energy or sent to landfills.<\/p>\n

Professor James Tour, Rice University<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Addressing environmental concerns is key as battery waste adds to the pollution problem; when measured against the rate of production and projections for future use, the issue of what to do with waste also increases.<\/p>\n

Professor Tour claims that the flash joule recovery process can revive the key and precious metals and \u201crecondition anodes in a far more environmentally and economically friendly manner<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Environmental Compatibility: Flash Joule Heating<\/h2>\n

The flash joule recovery process works by inducing degradation on the conductive electron-insulating layer on the battery electrodes, known as the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). This layer typically protects the anode from any reactions that may cause harm, as well as conducting lithium ions.<\/p>\n

Applying the flash joule method is also considered a greener solution in contrast to existing methods, as flash heating provides a string of environmental benefits, as solvents are not required, cutting down on the use of harmful chemicals and minimizing the amount of energy needed to achieve maximum results.<\/p>\n

Flashing the SEI leaves behind graphene particles that demonstrate improved future energy capacity capabilities, good rate performance, and cycling stability compared to existing recycling methods such as high-temperature calcination.<\/p>\n

As well as being time-consuming, high-temperature calcination is energy intensive and, on an industrial scale, is considered a major contributor to the release of CO2<\/sub> and, therefore, a contributor to climate change.<\/p>\n

The Rice lab projects that the cost of recycling one ton of untreated Li-ion anode waste would be in the region of 118 USD but would recover a specific capacity of 351 milliamp hours per gram at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the electrochemical stability and rate performance of anodes recycled by high-temperature calcination.<\/p>\n

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Beyond the spent graphite anodes, we are confident that the cathodes, the electrolytes and their mixtures can be effectively recycled or reconditioned by our method.<\/p>\n

Weiyin Chen, Graduate Student, Rice University<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tour, Chen, and the rest of the team have successfully demonstrated that the flash joule method can be reconfigured and has the application potential to lead a green revival of lithium-ion anodes, paving the way toward a more environmentally compatible future for Li-ion batteries.<\/p>\n

References and Further Reading<\/h2>\n

Williams, M. (2022) Rice flashes new life into lithium-ion anodes<\/em>, Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University<\/em>. Available at: https:\/\/news.rice.edu\/news\/2022\/rice-flashes-new-life-lithium-ion-anodes<\/a><\/p>\n

Chen, W. et al.<\/em> (2022) \u201cFlash recycling of graphite anodes,\u201d Advanced Materials<\/em>, p. 2207303. Available at: https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/adma.202207303<\/a><\/p>\n

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