Upcycling the spent graphite/LiCoO₂ batteries for high-voltage graphite/LiCoPO₄-co-workable dual-ion batteries

Abstract

The worldwide proliferation of portable electronics has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, traditional recycling methods still have limitations because of such huge amounts of spent LIBs. Therefore, we proposed an ecofriendly and sustainable double recycling strategy to concurrently reuse the cathode (LiCoO₂) and anode (graphite) materials of spent LIBs and recycled LiCoPO₄/graphite (RLCPG) in Li⁺/PF₆⁻ co-de/intercalation dual-ion batteries. The recycle-derived dual-ion batteries of Li/RLCPG show impressive electrochemical performance, with an appropriate discharge capacity of 86.2 mAh·g⁻¹ at 25 mA·g⁻¹ and 69% capacity retention after 400 cycles. Dual recycling of the cathode and anode from spent LIBs avoids wastage of resources and yields cathode materials with excellent performance, thereby offering an ecofriendly and sustainable way to design novel secondary batteries.

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