Recovery of cobalt from lithium-ion batteries using fluidised cathode molten salt electrolysis

The future need to recycle enormous quantities of Li-ion batteries is a consequence the rapid rise in electric vehicles required decarbonise transport sector. Cobalt critical element many battery cathode chemistries. Herein, an electrochemical reduction and recovery process Co from LiCoO2 demonstrated that uses molten salt fluidised technique. For Li-Co-O-Cl system, specific experimental process, predominance diagram was developed aid understanding pathway. voltammograms indicate two 2-electron transfer reactions CoO at −2.4 V vs. Ag/Ag+. Chronoamperometry revealed Faradaic current efficiency estimated between 70-80% for commercially-obtained upwards 80% spent battery. route recycling could prove be simple, green high-throughput efficient materials.