Work

High‐Value Targeted Conversion of Copper Slag as LiFePO 4 Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The massive stockpiling of copper slag (CS) presents severe environmental and resource‐waste challenges. Existing strategies for CS valorization typically yield low‐value‐added products. Herein, we propose an innovative hierarchical regulation approach to transform CS into high‐performance LiFePO 4 (LFP) cathode materials. The process involved alkali hydrolysis pretreatment followed by oxidative leaching with HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 . This step selectively removed 71.6% of Si and 82.2% of Al impurities while enriching valuable metals, such as Zn (83.29%), Pb (57.10%), and Cu (73.60%), in the leachate. Subsequent thermodynamically guided coprecipitation and direct phosphation achieved complete Fe utilization and introduced trace Ti doping (0.28 wt%). The optimized LFP@1 and LFP@2 cathodes demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance, exhibiting specific capacities of 108.19 and 128.21 mAh g −1 at 1C, respectively, while retaining over 97% capacity retention after 300 cycles. A comprehensive life cycle assessment confirms the environmental superiority of this process. This work successfully establishes a closed‐loop strategy for CS upcycling and provides fundamental insights into impurity‐phase regulation for valorizing iron‐silicate‐based wastes.

Source: Rare Metals

DOI: 10.1002/rar2.70196

Authors: Yuyun Li, Wanquan Yu, Haigang Dong, Chenchen Li, Qi Meng, Peng Dong

Institution: Kunming University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Extraction and Separation Processes

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190