Oxide-based lithium solid-state batteries from a recycling perspective

Access to cheap and clean energy is key to our society's prosperity (Smalley, 2005). Therefore, electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies are paramount for the energy transition to combat climate change. Ever since the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by Sony in the 1990s (Nagaura 1990), LIBs have proven to be reliable and efficient in terms of lifetime and energy as well as power density (Janek & Zeier 2016). LIBs with intercalation cathode active material (CAM), liquid electrolyte, and graphite anode have dominated the battery market since their introduction.

Within a circular economy framework, recycling concepts for solid-state batteries (SSBs) need to be developed before widespread application to ensure sustainable production. A promising oxide-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) is garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), which possesses a high ionic conductivity, a wide electrochemical window, and good stability toward Li metal. From a recycling perspective, available cell designs are analyzed, and implications for recycling are deduced. The cell design is subject to change, and the cell components are intimately mixed. In addition, new raw materials will be introduced into the recycling process, which are not included in current battery generations. Hence, SSBs present new challenges for recycling. As the mechanical separation of the cell components is difficult to achieve, hydrometallurgical processes will need to be developed.

Autor(en)

Kirstin Schneider, Prof. Dr. Daniel Goldmann

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Publikation

Recy & Depotech (2022) (November 2022)

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