New Method Developed for Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, led by Yan Wang, developed a new method for recycling old lithium-ion batteries that could produce new batteries with approximately twice the lifespan of current commercial materials. This approach covers both the cathode and the anode, converting used low-nickel cathodes into NMC622 and purifying graphite extracted from old batteries. The study was published in the scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials.

The discovery addresses the growing volume of discarded lithium-ion batteries, which contain valuable materials that are expensive to extract. By enabling more efficient recovery of resources, the method could help reduce battery waste and lower the environmental footprint of battery production.