Yes.
Since their commercialization in the early 1990s, lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly used. Today, lithium-ion batteries are almost everywhere, from laptops and cell phones to electric vehicles and energy storage devices. Subsequently, the number of discarded lithium-ion batteries increased at an alarming rate.
Research predicts that by 2030, the number of discarded lithium-ion batteries worldwide will reach more than 11 million tons. Currently, the recycling rate for used lithium-ion batteries in the United States is less than 5%. If this problem cannot be resolved effectively, it will have a negative impact on both human health and the natural ecological environment.
This time, the US Department of Energy has established a battery recycling research and development center at the Argonne National Laboratory, with the aim ofe develop a cost-effective recycling process to recover as much lithium as possible from used lithium-ion batteries. precious materials such as cobalt as possible.
The Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Award is launched to encourage American companies to find innovative solutions for the collection, storage, transportation and final recycling of used lithium-ion batteries. The Department of Energy will provide a total of $5.5 million in grants.
Detailed information:
Once the lithium battery cell is overcharged at a voltage above 4.2 V, will start to produce side effects. The higher the overload voltage, the higher the risk. Once the lithium battery cell voltage is higher than 4.2V, the number of lithium atoms remaining in the positive electrode material is less than half. At this mOtherwise, memory cells often collapse, causing a permanent decrease in battery capacity. If charging continues, since the storage compartment of the negative electrode has been filled with lithium atoms, subsequent lithium metal will accumulate on the surface of the negative electrode material.
These lithium atoms will grow dendrites from the surface of the negative electrode towards the lithium ions. These lithium metal crystals will pass through the separator paper and short circuit the positive and negative electrodes. Sometimes the battery explodes before a short circuit occurs. This is because during the overcharging process, the electrolyte and other materials crack and produce gas, causing the battery shell or pressure valve to swell and rupture, allowing oxygen to escape. enter and react with lithium. the atoms accumulated on the surface of the negative electrode thenexplode.
Therefore, when charging lithium batteries, the upper voltage limit should be set so that the life, capacity and safety of the battery can be taken into account same time. The ideal upper limit of charging voltage is 4.2 V. Lithium batteries should also have a lower voltage limit when discharging. When the cell voltage is lower than 2.4 V, some materials begin to be destroyed. And since the battery will discharge automatically, the longer it is stored, the lower the voltage will be.
Therefore, it is best not to stop at 2.4V when discharging. During the period when a lithium battery is discharged from 3.0 V to 2.4 V, the energy released is only about 3% of the battery's capacity. Therefore, 3.0 V is an ideal discharge cut-off voltage. When charging and discharging, in addition toA voltage limitation, current limitation is also necessary. When the current is too high, the lithium ions do not have time to enter the storage compartment and accumulate on the surface of the material.
Daily online waste of lithium batteries has become a major concern of the US Department of Energy