Birmingham University demonstrates direct reuse of aluminium, copper current collectors from spent Li-ion batteries

Researchers from The University of Birmingham have reportedly discovered and demonstrated the possibility of directly reusing aluminium and copper current collectors from spent lithium-ion batteries. An open access paper on their study is published in the RSC Journal Green Chemistry.

The ever increasing number of spent lithium-ion batteries is causing a serious waste-management challenge, which can, however, be tackled by the direct reuse of aluminium and copper current collectors, while developing an alternative renewable source of aluminium and copper and preventing long manufacturing processes and energy input for new current collectors, explained Zhu et al.

He added, “… Herein, aluminium and copper current collectors are reclaimed from commercial spent LIBs with simple chemical treatments and we illustrate their successful reuse for LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 cathodes and graphite anodes, respectively. The reclaimed current collectors treated with different processes show different surface compositions and morphology to pristine ones, resulting in distinctive wettability, adhesion strength and electrical conductivity.”

Recycling studies are mostly performed on electrode-active materials and less attention is given to inactive components like current collectors, separators, electrolytes, and cases. In this study, the researchers have explored different treatments for delaminating the used aluminium and copper current collectors. 

The researchers have also noted in the study that although they have demonstrated the feasibility of reusing aluminium and copper current collectors, further work is necessary for two areas – 1) Conflict between interfacial adhesion and contact conductivity and 2) Scaling up for application in industry.