Roadmap for a sustainable circular economy in lithium-ion and future battery technologies

Abstract The market dynamics, and their impact on a future circular economy for lithium-ion batteries (LIB), are presented in this roadmap, with safety as an integral consideration throughout the life cycle. At point of end-of-life (EOL), there is range potential options—remanufacturing, reuse recycling. Diagnostics play significant role evaluating state-of-health condition batteries, improvements to diagnostic techniques evaluated. present, manual disassembly dominates EOL disposal, however, given volumes that be anticipated, automated approaches dismantling battery packs will key. first stage recycling after removal cells initial cell-breaking or opening step. Approaches reviewed, contrasting shredding cell two alternative approaches. Design one approach could assist easier cells, new design enable LIBs reviewed. After disassembly, subsequent separation black mass performed before further concentration components. There plethora recovering materials; roadmap sets out directions including pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, short-loop, direct, biological recovery LIB materials. Furthermore, anode, lithium, electrolyte, binder plastics considered order maximise proportion materials recovered, minimise waste way towards zero-waste life-cycle implications discussed considering overall system recycling, also directly investigating different methods. legal regulatory perspectives considered. Finally, view future, next-generation chemistries evaluated, identifying gaps research. This review takes form series short reviews, each section written independently by diverse international authorship experts topic. Collectively, these reviews comprehensive picture current state art how technologies expected develop future.