Direct Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries: Assessing the Impact of Air Exposure on Recovered Electrode Materials

作者：Zbyněk Plachý, Jan Koci, Yaqi Li, D. Stroe, V. Knap, A. Pražanová · 发表于：ECS Meeting Abstracts · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1149/ma2026-01562745mtgabs

The exponential growth in global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), driven by the transition to electromobility and renewable energy storage, leads to a surge in end-of-life units. This waste stream necessitates robust waste management strategies beyond mere disposal. Effective recycling is paramount to mitigate environmental hazards, alleviate raw material scarcity (particularly cobalt, nickel, and lithium), and enhance supply chain security through "urban mining." Among the emerging reclamation technologies, direct recycling represents a particularly promising avenue. Unlike pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes, direct recycling aims to recover electrode materials with their crystal structure intact, thereby significantly conserving energy, reducing chemical consumption, and minimizing secondary waste generation [1]. However, the transition from laboratory scale to industrial application is hindered by a critical knowledge gap: the sensitivity of recovered active materials to processing conditions. Seemingly minor handling steps and environmental exposure during disassembly can drastically alter the electrochemical performance of the recyclates [2]. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into a direct recycling strategy applied to commercially available cylindrical 18650 LIBs featuring both NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt oxide) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistries. The research focuses specifically on quantifying the impact of post-disas...