Abstract: A method of recycling lithium-ion batteries is disclosed. The method includes isolating a composite electrode that comprises an electrode material adhered to a current collector with a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder from a spent lithium-ion battery. The method also includes contacting the composite electrode in a polyol fluid capable of releasing the PVDF binder from the current collector without substantially altering either component. The composite electrode may be a cathode or an anode. The method also includes rapidly delaminating the electrode material from the current collector to give a free electrode material and a free current collector, and recovering each of the free electrode material and the free current collector from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of improving interfacial contact at an electrode-to-solid-electrolyte interface in a solid-state battery cell is provided. The method includes providing a solid-state battery cell including a solid-state electrolyte and electrodes defining an anode and a cathode. Each of the anode and cathode are adjacent to the solid-state electrolyte at an interface. The method further includes electrochemically increasing interfacial contact between at least one of the electrodes and the solid-state electrolyte by applying a voltage pulse to the cell at a high current density for a short duration, wherein electrode material diffuses into pores formed in the solid electrolyte interface, thereby healing the pores and eliminating an interfacial space charge effect.

Abstract: An improved method of recycling lithium-ion battery anode scraps is provided. The method involves isolating an anode scrap including a graphite anode film adhered to a current collector foil with a polyvinylidene fluoride binder. The anode scrap is combined with deionized water to form a first mixture. The graphite anode film is delaminated from the current collector foil to form a second mixture comprising a free collector foil and a free graphite anode film. The free graphite anode film is filtered and dried from the second mixture to recover the free graphite anode film. The free graphite anode film is combined with a solvent comprising N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to form an anode formation slurry. The slurry is coated onto a copper current collector to produce a new anode.

Abstract: A method for recycling lithium-ion battery materials is provided. The method includes isolating a composite electrode comprising an electrode material adhered to a current collector with a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder. The composite electrode is combined with triethyl phosphate (TEP) as a solvent to form a mixture. The electrode material is delaminated from the current collector in the mixture to give a free electrode material and a free current collector. Each of the free electrode material and the free current collector is recovered from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reviving a lithium-ion battery cell in which dendrites are formed providing a lithium-ion battery cell including a lithium-metal-containing electrolyte and one of a graphite or a lithium-metal-containing anode. Lithium dendrites are formed at an anode/electrolyte interface in the cell and extend into the electrolyte of the cell. The method further includes electrochemically healing the battery cell by actively applying a plurality of continuous low current density galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles to the battery cell. Lithium metal is thusly oxidized from tips of the dendrites thereby causing dissolution of the dendrites.

Abstract: An improved method of recycling lithium-ion battery anode scraps is provided. The method involves isolating an anode scrap including a graphite anode film adhered to a current collector foil with a polyvinylidene fluoride binder. The anode scrap is combined with deionized water to form a first mixture. The graphite anode film is delaminated from the current collector foil to form a second mixture comprising a free collector foil and a free graphite anode film. The free graphite anode film is filtered and dried from the second mixture to recover the free graphite anode film. The free graphite anode film is combined with a solvent comprising N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to form an anode formation slurry. The slurry is coated onto a copper current collector to produce a new anode.

Abstract: A method for relithiating cathode material from spent lithium-based batteries, the method comprising: (i) mixing delithiated cathode material and a lithium salt with an ionic liquid in which the lithium salt is at least partially soluble to form an initial mixture; (ii) heating the initial mixture to a temperature of 100° C. to 300° C. to result in relithiation of the delithiated cathode material; and (iii) separating the ionic liquid from the relithiated cathode material; wherein, in embodiments, the cathode material is a lithium metal oxide, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Al, Zr, Ti, Nb, and combinations thereof, or wherein the cathode material has the formula LiNixMnyCozO2, wherein x>0, y>0, z>0, and x+y+z=1; wherein, in some embodiments, the ionic liquid has a nitrogen-containing cationic portion, such as an imidazolium ionic liquid.

Abstract: A cathode active material precursor for a lithium metal oxide is provided. The cathode active material precursor comprises a metal-containing oxyhydroxide. The metal-containing oxyhydroxide comprises nickel and an additional metal. At least 50 mol. % of the nickel of the metal-containing oxyhydroxide has an oxidation state of +3. A method of forming a cathode active material precursor is also provided. The method comprises combining a nickel-containing compound, an additional metal-containing compound, an oxidizing agent, and a solvent to form a solution. The method further comprises exposing the solution to heat at a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 90° C. to form a precipitate comprising the metal-containing oxyhydroxide.

Abstract: A method of recycling lithium-ion battery materials is provided. The method includes isolating a composite electrode that includes an electrode material adhered to a current collector. The composite electrode is combined with an aqueous buffer solution to form a mixture. The electrode material is delaminated from the current collector in the mixture to give a free electrode material and a free current collector. Each of the free electrode material and the free current collector is recovered from the mixture. Combining the composite electrode with the aqueous buffer solution occurs before delaminating the electrode material from the current collector. The step of delaminating optionally may include adding a surfactant to the mixture.

Abstract: A method for the regeneration of cathode material from spent lithium-ion batteries is provided. The method includes dissolving a lithium precursor in a polyhydric alcohol to form a solution. Degraded cathode material containing lithium metal oxides are dispersed into the solution under mechanical stirring, forming a mixture. The mixture is heat treated within a reactor vessel or microwave oven. During this heat treatment, lithium is intercalated into the degraded cathode material. The relithiated electrode material is collected by filtration, washing with solvents, and drying. The relithiated electrode material is then ground with a lithium precursor and thermally treated at a relatively low temperature for a predetermined time period to obtain regenerated cathode material.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium battery includes LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, Cr, Zr and V, and x is between 0.005-0.02. The LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 can be coated with Mn2P2O7. The Mn2P2O7 can be 1-3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 and Mn2P2O7. A cathode composition, a lithium battery, and a method of making a lithium battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for recycling lithium-ion battery materials is provided. The method includes isolating a composite electrode that includes an electrode material adhered to a current collector. The isolated composite electrode is combined with a citrate-based solvent to form a mixture. The electrode material is delaminated from the current collector in the mixture to give a free electrode material and a free current collector. Each of the free electrode material and the free current collector is recovered from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for recycling lithium-ion battery materials is provided. The method includes isolating a composite electrode comprising an electrode material adhered to a current collector with a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder. The composite electrode is combined with triethyl phosphate (TEP) as a solvent to form a mixture. The electrode material is delaminated from the current collector in the mixture to give a free electrode material and a free current collector. Each of the free electrode material and the free current collector is recovered from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cathode and a battery providing the cathode is provided. The cathode comprises a lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide comprises nickel, aluminum, and iron. The lithium metal oxide is substantially free of cobalt. The battery comprises an anode, the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery comprising: (a) an anode; (b) a cathode; and (c) an electrolyte composition comprising lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) dissolved in the following solvent system containing at least the following solvent components: (i) ethylene carbonate and/or propylene carbonate in an amount of 5-70 wt % by weight of the solvent system; and (ii) at least one additional solvent selected from acyclic carbonate, acyclic or cyclic ester, and acyclic or cyclic ether solvents having a molecular weight of no more than 110 g/mol, wherein said at least one additional solvent is in an amount of 30-70 wt % by weight of the solvent system; wherein the wt % amounts for solvent components (i) and (ii), or any additional solvent components (if present) sum to 100 wt %, and wherein LiFSI is present in the solvent system in a concentration of 1.2 M to about 2 M.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a sodium ion battery is provided. The positive electrode includes a sodium metal vanadium fluorophosphate having a formula according to Formula I: Na3V2-xMxOy(PO4)2F3-y??I; wherein 0<x?1, 0?y?1, and M is one or more additional metals.

Abstract: A super ion conductor composition is disclosed. The super ion conductor composition has the general formula: A1+xMx/2Zr2?x/2(PO4)3, where each A is independently Na or Li, M is Mn or Mg, and subscript x is from 0.5 to 3. A solid electrolyte comprising the super ion conductor composition, and a method of preparing the solid electrolyte, are also disclosed. The method comprises combining a zirconium compound, a manganese or magnesium compound, a sodium compound, and a phosphate compound to give a mixture; and calcining the mixture to give the super ion conductor composition, thereby preparing the solid electrolyte. Functional materials and devices comprising the super ion conductor composition are also disclosed, including a catholyte composition, an ion conducting solid electrolyte membrane, as well as all-solid-state batteries.

Abstract: A method of recycling lithium-ion batteries is disclosed. The method includes isolating a composite electrode that comprises an electrode material adhered to a current collector with a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder from a spent lithium-ion battery. The method also includes contacting the composite electrode in a polyol fluid capable of releasing the PVDF binder from the current collector without substantially altering either component. The composite electrode may be a cathode or an anode. The method also includes rapidly delaminating the electrode material from the current collector to give a free electrode material and a free current collector, and recovering each of the free electrode material and the free current collector from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: The complex transition metal phosphonates include one or more of compounds with the chemical formula: (1) AxMy(R(PO3)2)z; (2) AxMy(RPO3)z; (3) AxMy(R(PO3)2; nHO; (4) AxMy(RPO3); nH2O; and (5) AxMy(R(PO3)2)z(X)t, where A is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, M is a divalent or trivalent transition metal, R is an organic group, and X is OH, F or CI. For example, A is Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb, Mg, Ca and/or combinations thereof. M is Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu and/or combinations thereof. R is a C1-C5 alkyl group; e.g., CH2, C2H4, or C3H6, The complex transition metal phosphonates can be used as cathode or anode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium battery includes LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, Cr, Zr and V, and x is between 0.005-0.02. The LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 can be coated with Mn2P2O7. The Mn2P2O7 can be 1-3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2 MxO2 and Mn2P2O7. A cathode composition, a lithium battery, and a method of making a lithium battery are also disclosed.