Zincophilic Nanospheres Assembled as Solid-Electrolyte Interphase on Zn Metal Anodes for Reversible High-rate Zn-Ion Storage.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices in the post-lithium-ion era with fast ionic conductivity, safety, and low cost. However, excessive accumulation of zinc dendrites will fracture and produce dead zinc, resulting in the unsatisfied utilization rate of Zn anodes, which greatly restricts the lifespan of the battery and reduces the reversibility. In this paper, by constructing a protective layer of ZnSnO3 hollow nanospheres in situ growth on the surface of the Zn anode, more zincophilic sites are established on the electrode surface. It demonstrates that uniform deposition of Zn ions by deepening the binding energy with Zn ion and its unique hollow structure shortens the diffusion distance of Zn ions and enhances the reaction kinetics. The assembled Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZHSC) of ZnSnO3@Zn//AC achieved a long-term lifespan with 4000 cycles at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.31% and capacity retention of 79.6%. This work offers a new path for advanced Zn anodes interphase supporting the long cycle life with large capacities and improving electrochemical reversibility.

Grave-to-cradle photothermal upcycling of waste polyesters over spent LiCoO2.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and plastics are pivotal components of modern society; nevertheless, their escalating production poses formidable challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. Here, we showcase the transformation of spent lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes into photothermal catalysts capable of catalyzing the upcycling of diverse waste polyesters into high-value monomers. The distinctive Li deficiency in spent LCO induces a contraction in the Co-O6 unit cell, boosting the monomer yield exceeding that of pristine LCO by a factor of 10.24. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment underscores the economic viability of utilizing spent LCO as a photothermal catalyst, yielding returns of 129.6 $·kgLCO-1, surpassing traditional battery recycling returns (13-17 $·kgLCO-1). Solar-driven recycling 100,000 tons of PET can reduce 3.459 × 1011 kJ of electric energy and decrease 38,716 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This work unveils a sustainable solution for the management of spent LIBs and plastics.

Direct recycling of spent Li-ion batteries: Challenges and opportunities toward practical applications.

With the exponential expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), the disposal of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is poised to increase significantly in the coming years. Effective recycling of these batteries is essential to address environmental concerns and tap into their economic value. Direct recycling has recently emerged as a promising solution at the laboratory level, offering significant environmental benefits and economic viability compared to pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling methods. However, its commercialization has not been realized in the terms of financial feasibility. This perspective provides a comprehensive analysis of the obstacles that impede the practical implementation of direct recycling, ranging from disassembling, sorting, and separation to technological limitations. Furthermore, potential solutions are suggested to tackle these challenges in the short term. The need for long-term, collaborative endeavors among manufacturers, battery producers, and recycling companies is outlined to advance fully automated recycling of spent LIBs. Lastly, a smart direct recycling framework is proposed to achieve the full life cycle sustainability of LIBs.

Direct Regeneration of NCM Cathode Material with Aluminum Scraps.

Hydrothermal-based direct regeneration of spent Li-ion battery (LIB) cathodes has garnered tremendous attention for its simplicity and scalability. However, it is heavily reliant on manual disassembly to ensure the high purity of degraded cathode powders, and the quality of regenerated materials. In reality, degraded cathodes often contain residual components of the battery, such as binders, current collectors, and graphite particles. Thorough investigation is thus required to understand the effects of these impurities on hydrothermal-based direct regeneration. In this study, we focus on isolating the effects of aluminum (Al) scraps on the direct regeneration process. We found that Al metal can be dissolved during the hydrothermal relithiation process. Even when the cathode material contains up to 15 wt.% Al scraps, no detrimental effects were observed on the recovered structure, chemical composition, and electrochemical performance of the regenerated cathode material. The regenerated NCM cathode can achieve a capacity of 163.68 mAh/g at 0.1 C and exhibited a high-capacity retention of 85.58 % after cycling for 200 cycles at 0.5 C. Therefore, the hydrothermal-based regeneration method is effective in revitalizing degraded cathode materials, even in the presence of notable Al impurity content, showing great potential for industrial applications.