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[ ]Accept analytics and customisation cookies Save settings Menu Close * Apply to Aalto * Research & Art * People * Collaboration * Aalto University * Services * Search * English + FISuomeksi + SVSvenska + ENEnglish * Tools Tools quicklinks Aalto contact information + Aalto People Find Aalto people + Aalto's researchers research.aalto.fi HR and finance + Workday learning Language tools + Uniterms Translation glossary Education and research + Into Portal for Aalto students + Learning Centre + Support for quality teaching and learning Statistics and survey tools + KPI dashboard (use VPN to access) Success figures Facilities and safety issues + Emergencies and incident reports Other + Brand library + Materialbank Images and logos + Lunch menus + Online meeting tools Teams, Zoom, Panopto * Log in Search Search aalto.fi Latest information on the coronavirus News Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting Published: 22.4.2021 New recycling method replenishes lithium in electrodes while keeping existing structure intact - and performance is nearly as good as new ones akun elektrodeja tutkimuskaapissa Electrodes removed from the batteries. Electrode consists of a film made of aluminum or copper, for example, which is covered with a thin layer of active material. Photo: Aalto University The proliferation of electric cars, smartphones, and portable devices is leading to an estimated 25 percent increase globally in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries each year. Many raw materials used in the batteries, such as cobalt, may soon be in short supply. The European Commission is preparing a new battery decree, which would require the recycling of 95 percent of the cobalt in batteries. Yet existing battery recycling methods are far from perfect. Researchers at Aalto University have now discovered that electrodes in lithium batteries containing cobalt can be reused as is after being newly saturated with lithium. In comparison to traditional recycling, which typically extracts metals from crushed batteries by melting or dissolving them, the new process saves valuable raw materials, and likely also energy. 'In our earlier study of how lithium cobalt oxide batteries age, we noticed that one of the main causes of battery deterioration is the depletion of lithium in the electrode material. The structures can nevertheless remain relatively stable, so we wanted to see if they can be reused,' explains Professor Tanja Kallio at Aalto University. Almost like new Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have two electrodes between which electrically charged particles move. Lithium cobalt oxide is used in one electrode and, in most of the batteries, the other is made of carbon and copper. In traditional battery recycling methods, some of batteries' raw materials are lost and lithium cobalt oxide turns into other cobalt compounds, which require a lengthy chemical refinement process to turn them back into electrode material. The new method sidesteps this painstaking process: by replenishing the spent lithium in the electrode through an electrolysis process, commonly used in industry, the cobalt compound can be directly reused. The results show that the performance of electrodes newly saturated with lithium is almost as good as that of those made of new material. Kallio believes that with further development the method would also work on an industrial scale. 'By reusing the structures of batteries we can avoid a lot of the labour that is common in recycling and potentially save energy at the same time. We believe that the method could help companies that are developing industrial recycling,' Kallio says. The researchers next aim to see if the same method could also be used with the nickel-based batteries of electric cars. The research was published in ChemSusChem journal. Lahtinen, K., Rautama, E., Jiang, H., Rasanen, S. and Kallio, T. (2021), The reuse of LiCoO2 electrodes collected from spent Li-ion batteries after the electrochemical re-lithiation of the electrode. ChemSusChem. Link to the article More information Tanja Kallio Tanja Kallio Associate professor T105 Chemistry and Materials [email protected] * Published: 22.4.2021 * Updated: 28.4.2021 Share * * * * * URL copied! Read more news See all Battery recycling_photo Valeria Azovskaya Press releases, Research & Art Published: 31.3.2021 Is battery recycling environmentally friendly? Researchers conduct life-cycle assessment to determine the actual carbon footprint of battery recycling Recycled battery metal in a bowl Cooperation, Research & Art Published: 26.3.2021 Recycling of batteries and responsible raw materials are Finland's asset - A major project enhanced cooperation within the battery sector The two-year BATCircle consortium led by Aalto University has produced a lot of new research on battery recycling and raw materials and strengthened the cooperation within the sector Kuvituskuva: moderni toimistorakennus, jossa lasiset seinat Press releases Published: 24.3.2021 Economists see an emission allowance system for construction materials as the most cost-effective way of reducing the carbon footprint of construction An emissions allowance system would steer the construction industry toward making the needed emission reductions where it can be done at the lowest possible costs, researchers say. Credit (c) ITER Organization Research & Art Published: 18.3.2021 EU awards significant funding for Finnish AI-assisted fusion research The University of Helsinki will lead a new centre specialised in fusion research based on artificial intelligence and modelling, harnessing the strong expertise in AI in the Helsinki region for future energy production. See all 1. Home 2. News 3. Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting Aalto University P.O. Box 11000 (Otakaari 1B) FI-00076 AALTO Switchboard: +358 9 47001 Follow us: * Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * Instagram * Youtube * Snapchat * Blogs Quicklinks * Research and artistic outputs * Library - Learning Centre * Admissions * Alumni * Media * IT services * Open University * Aalto University Shop Latest * News * Events * Careers Contact * Campus maps * Contact information For students * Into * Webmail * WebOodi * MyCourses * Sisu * Vihta Together towards a better world. 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