The Spray-Solid Phase Method for Regenerating Cathode Materials from Spent Lithium-Ion batteries

To solve the complicated process control in the existing recycling process, a new method of regenerating LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 materials directly from the leaching solution was proposed by spray-drying combined with high-temperature calcination. The calcination temperature on the structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of the regenerated material was analyzed by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and HRTEM. After optimization of experimental conditions, the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 was the better at the temperature of 850 degrees C with the ratio of malic acid to total metal ions of 1:2. The first discharge specific capacity of regenerated material is 165.3 mAh/g at 0.1 C. And the specific discharge capacity is 158.9 mAh/g for the first cycle at a rate of 1 C, and the capacity retention rate is 86.7% after 100 cycles at 1 C. The novel method will be conducive to shorten and simplify the process for efficient recycling.