Comparison of lithium battery technology routes

What are the recycling routes for lithium-ion battery recycling?

For a comprehensive evaluation of recycling routes for lithium-ion battery recycling, we provide a clear definition of the terms “full recycling route”, “direct physical route”, “pyro-metallurgical route”, “hydro-metallurgical route”, “recycling efficiency” and “material recovery efficiency”.

Are lithium-ion batteries a good energy storage technology?

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become increasingly significant as an energy storage technology since their introduction to the market in the early 1990s, owing to their high energy density .

What is the difference between battery production and lithium production?

Considering HT, battery production and the unit process negative active material (lithium) have smaller shares of 28% and 4%, respectively. Instead, the unit processes negative current collector and cell container have a high influence with shares of 37% and 20%, respectively. These high shares are related to the copper production chain.

Why are lithium ion batteries so popular?

The rapid development of LIBs has led to increased production efficiency and lower costs for manufacturers, resulting in a growing demand for batteries and their application across various industries, particularly in different types of vehicles.

Should we use a clear system boundary for lithium-ion battery recycling?

Thus, we recommend for all future studies on lithium-ion battery recycling that our structure with a clear identification of the systems boundary is used. The need to create clarity is important, as we can expect the number of combinations to increase even further in order to produce products with high yields and purity.

What are lithium ion batteries?

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries which consist of a cathode and anode. Between the two electrodes is the ion-conducting electrolyte through which lithium ions can migrate Emissions could stem from the components of LIBs that are released in the process. We call this type of emission “material losses”