TY - JOUR
T1 - Second life and recycling
T2 - Energy and environmental sustainability perspectives for high-performance lithium-ion batteries
AU - Tao, Yanqiu
AU - Rahn, Christopher D.
AU - Archer, Lynden A.
AU - You, Fengqi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved;
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Second life and recycling of retired automotive lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have drawn growing attention, as large volumes of LIBs will retire in the coming decade. Here, we illustrate how battery chemistry, use, and recycling can influence the energy and environmental sustainability of LIBs. We find that LIBs with higher specific energy show better life cycle environmental performances, but their environmental benefits from second life application are less pronounced. Direct cathode recycling is found to be the most effective in reducing life cycle environmental impacts, while hydrometallurgical recycling provides limited sustainability benefits for high-performance LIBs. Battery design with less aluminum and alternative anode materials, such as silicon-based anode, could enable more sustainable LIB recycling. Compared to directly recycling LIBs after their electric vehicle use, carbon footprint and energy use of LIBs recycled after their second life can be reduced by 8 to 17% and 2 to 6%, respectively.
AB - Second life and recycling of retired automotive lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have drawn growing attention, as large volumes of LIBs will retire in the coming decade. Here, we illustrate how battery chemistry, use, and recycling can influence the energy and environmental sustainability of LIBs. We find that LIBs with higher specific energy show better life cycle environmental performances, but their environmental benefits from second life application are less pronounced. Direct cathode recycling is found to be the most effective in reducing life cycle environmental impacts, while hydrometallurgical recycling provides limited sustainability benefits for high-performance LIBs. Battery design with less aluminum and alternative anode materials, such as silicon-based anode, could enable more sustainable LIB recycling. Compared to directly recycling LIBs after their electric vehicle use, carbon footprint and energy use of LIBs recycled after their second life can be reduced by 8 to 17% and 2 to 6%, respectively.
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U2 - 10.1126/sciadv.abi7633
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.abi7633
M3 - Article
C2 - 34739316
AN - SCOPUS:85118688173
VL - 7
JO - Science advances
JF - Science advances
SN - 2375-2548
IS - 45
M1 - eabi7633
ER -