Closed-Loop Electrochemical Upcycling of Lithium-Ion Battery Waste into High-Value Energy Materials (2026-2027)
Abstract
This project aims to turn waste from spent lithium-ion batteries into valuable materials for clean energy technologies. Lithium-ion batteries power many devices like smartphones and electric cars. As more batteries reach the end of their life, recycling their valuable metals safely and efficiently is essential to protect the environment and reduce mining for new resources. We will develop an energy-efficient process that uses electricity to extract important metals such as Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese from battery waste. These metals will then be turned into advanced materials for making new batteries or clean energy devices. By creating a closed-loop system, we hope to turn battery waste into a resource, reducing pollution and the need for mining rare minerals. This supports a sustainable, circular economy where materials are reused, not discarded. Expected outcomes include a lab-scale prototype for metal recovery and reuse, new materials made from recycled metals, and initi
