A low-temperature solid-to-solid reaction for lithium-ion battery recycling and the utilization of defect-enriched Co3O4 from spent LiCoO2 batteries for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 349; p. 123873
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhizhou, Li, Zebiao, Zhong, Jing, Zhou, Binbin, Liu, Jie, Pan, Jie, Cao, Feng, Lin, Jianbin, Zhang, Zheming, Bian, Haidong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.07.2024
• Subjects: Co3O4; Li battery recycling; LiCoO2; Oxygen and cobalt vacancy; Oxygen evolution reaction; Oxygen and cobalt vacancy; Oxygen evolution reaction; Li battery recycling; LiCoO2; Co3O4
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.123873

An efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective strategy for the recovery of precious metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is of great significance for the sustainable natural resource utilization and environmental protection. Herein, a low-temperature solid-to-solid reaction combined water leaching technology is proposed for the preferential extraction of Li from spent LiCoO2 batteries. In the solid-to-solid reaction, crystal water released from the oxalic acid dihydrate acts as a lubricant and initiates the reduction reaction to convert the spent LiCoO2 into water-soluble Li salts (LiHC2O4 or Li2C2O4) and water-insoluble CoC2O4. After water leaching, the collected Li-rich solution and the Co-rich residue are separately transformed into Li2CO3 and Co3O4. Additionally, a defect-enriched Co3O4 is prepared by water quenching process, exhibiting excellent performances towards oxygen evolution reaction. This work not only achieves a facile, low-cost and energy-saving strategy for recycling spent LIBs, but also proposes a vacancy-defected engineering route for electrocatalyst design in energy-related applications. [Display omitted] •A low temperature solid-to-solid reaction combined with water leaching is proposed for LIBs recycling.•The high pressure steam in an enclosed space facilitates the Li separation efficiency.•Oxygen and cobalt vacancy are introduced into Co3O4 by a water quenching process.•Defective Co3O4 exhibits excellent performance towards OER.