The critical minerals that power lithium-ion batteries are in high demand and short supply, especially for the U.S., which must rely on importing resources such as nickel and cobalt to manufacture the technology.
Cornell researchers have now developed a more efficient and cost-effective way to recover almost the full life of these batteries after they are spent. By using an electrochemical solution to regenerate their electrodes, the recycled batteries can regain up to 95% of their original power and last longer when reused, the researchers demonstrated.
The process could also slash current recycling costs by 56% and would be more environmentally friendly than current methods.
The findings were published in Energy & Environmental Science. The study's lead author is postdoctoral researcher Kiwon Kim.
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