Simultaneous separation and renovation of lithium cobalt oxide from the cathode of spent lithium ion rechargeable batteries

摘要

LiCoO_2 cathode material is renovated and simultaneously separated from spent LiCoO_2 electrodes containing LiCoO_2, electron-conducting carbon, binder, Al current collector, and separator in a single synthetic step using hydrothermal method in a concentrated LiOH solution at 200 ℃ without any scraping procedures. It is found that the renovated LiCoO_2 phase crystallizes in the rhombohedral system with the space group R-3m. Although the obtained material has some electrochemically inactive impurities, the renovated LiCoO_2 phase exhibits the first discharge capacity of 144.0 mAh/g and the discharge capacity retention of 92.2% after 40 cycles.