Work

Upgrading polycrystalline battery cathodes to single-crystal NMC622 via morphology-controlled recycling

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The importance of recycling lithium-ion batteries is growing within the battery supply chain as a promising answer to economic and environmental challenges. Many initiatives are in progress to improve battery recycling technologies, as existing methods encounter major obstacles. Here, we report a polyol-metallurgical recycling process to upgrade polycrystalline cathodes to single-crystal cathodes, while detailing the coprecipitation and cathode resynthesis steps. Using citric acid and ethylene glycol enables effective leaching, simple separation, and controlled coprecipitation. Leveraging the distinct poly-esterification reactions in the precipitation phase, we achieve precise control over morphology and particle sizes. Using the coprecipitates, we have successfully resynthesized a LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 cathode with a similar elemental composition compared to the pristine cathode, free of impurities, and exhibiting a single-crystal morphology featuring grain sizes in the range of 10 μm. The study showcases the potential of polyol metallurgy as a novel and efficient method for recycling lithium-ion batteries and synthesizing advanced cathode materials.

Source: Cell Reports Sustainability

DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100552