Abstract: One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide methods for discharging spent batteries. The methods may include coating anode electrodes and cathode electrodes of the spent batteries with at least one catalyst layer. The catalyst layer may facilitate consistent and rapid discharge of the spent batteries. The spent batteries may be processed using an electrolyte solution to discharge the spent batteries. The electrolyte solution may include one or more suitable electrolytes that do not cause electrode corrosion during the discharge of the spent batteries. For example, the electrolytes may include a mixture of Na3PO4, water, co-solvent (e.g., ethylene glycol), and at least one surfactant, such as polyoxymethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, perfluorooctanesulfonate, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for direct recycling and upcycling of spent cathode materials using Flame-Assisted Spray Pyrolysis Technology (FAST). In illustrative embodiments, cathode layers are separated and collected from spent battery cells. The cathode laminate is ground to a powdered form and treated to remove contaminants by sifting into a hot stream of air which heats the powders, burning off contaminants. After cooling and particle collection, the powders may be dispersed into leaching solution to dissolve metal oxides and create an acid metal solution or ground into nano-sized primary particles and mixed with dispersing liquids to form a solution. The solution may be mixed with glycerol and additional metal salts to create a final precursor solution, which may undergo spray pyrolysis followed by drying and calcination to create cathode materials with high consistency and repeatability, or mixed with an alkaline metal salt solution and undergo electrodeposition to recover desired metal salts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for direct recycling and upcycling of spent cathode materials using Flame-Assisted Spray Pyrolysis Technology (FAST). In illustrative embodiments, cathode layers are separated and collected from spent battery cells. The cathode laminate is ground to a powdered form and treated to remove contaminants by sifting into a hot stream of air which heats the powders, burning off contaminants. After cooling and particle collection, the powders may be dispersed into leaching solution to dissolve metal oxides and create an acid metal solution or ground into nano-sized primary particles and mixed with dispersing liquids to form a solution. The solution may be mixed with glycerol and additional metal salts to create a final precursor solution, which may undergo spray pyrolysis followed by drying and calcination to create cathode materials with high consistency and repeatability, or mixed with an alkaline metal salt solution and undergo electrodeposition to recover desired metal salts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for direct recycling and upcycling of spent cathode materials using Flame-Assisted Spray Pyrolysis Technology (FAST). In illustrative embodiments, cathode layers are separated and collected from spent battery cells. The cathode laminate is ground to a powdered form and treated to remove contaminants by sifting into a hot stream of air which heats the powders, burning off contaminants. After cooling and particle collection, the powders may be dispersed into leaching solution to dissolve metal oxides and create an acid metal solution or ground into nano-sized primary particles and mixed with dispersing liquids to form a solution. The solution may be mixed with glycerol and additional metal salts to create a final precursor solution, which may undergo spray pyrolysis followed by drying and calcination to create cathode materials with high consistency and repeatability, or mixed with an alkaline metal salt solution and undergo electrodeposition to recover desired metal salts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for direct recycling and upcycling of spent cathode materials using Flame-Assisted Spray Pyrolysis Technology (FAST). In illustrative embodiments, cathode layers are separated and collected from spent battery cells. The cathode laminate is ground to a powdered form and treated to remove contaminants by sifting into a hot stream of air which heats the powders, burning off contaminants. After cooling and particle collection, the powders may be dispersed into leaching solution to dissolve metal oxides and create an acid metal solution or ground into nano-sized primary particles and mixed with dispersing liquids to form a solution. The solution may be mixed with glycerol and additional metal salts to create a final precursor solution, which may undergo spray pyrolysis followed by drying and calcination to create cathode materials with high consistency and repeatability, or mixed with an alkaline metal salt solution and undergo electrodeposition to recover desired metal salts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of materials with an alkali metal such as lithium for the manufacturing of batteries and capacitors. In one illustrative embodiment, a liquid lithium composition may be formed by dissolving metallic lithium in a solution that includes a suitable organic agent, a suitable solvent and suitable film forming agent. Each component of the solution may be present in an effective amount to perform its desired function. The lithium may be dissolved into the solution to obtain a lithium to organic agent molar ratio of from 1:1 to 10:1. The liquid lithium composition may then be dispensed onto a suitable substrate material and allowed to remain thereon for a suitable time for a prelithiation reaction to proceed, followed by drying. Dispensing may be performed by spraying the liquid lithium composition and drying may be performed at a relatively low temperature and a reduced pressure.

Abstract: A method for preparing copper-nickel cobaltate nanowires includes steps of: (1) dissolving a soluble nickel salt, cobalt salt and copper salt in ultrapure water, and preparing same into a mixed salt solution A; (2) adding 1-4 mmol of sodium dodecyl sulfate to solution A, and dissolving same with stirring; (3) dissolving 12-30 mmol of hexamethylenetetramine in 20 mL of ultrapure water to form solution B; (4) slowly dropwise adding solution B to solution A via a separatory funnel to form solution C, and stirring same for 0.5-1 h; and (5) further transferring same into a 100 mL reaction vessel, reacting same at 100-160° C. for 8-20 h, suction filtration and washing, and drying same at 40-60° C. in a vacuum oven, and further reacting same at 350-800° C. for 1-4 h in a muffle furnace.

Abstract: Described herein are semi-solid polymer electrolytes (SSPEs) based on a polymer backbone incorporating a flame-retardant crosslinker and fluorinated counterions that are useful in the production of high energy rechargeable lithium metal batteries. The described SSPEs are not liquid electrolytes, are not solid state electrolytes (SSEs), and are differentiated from standard state-of-the-art gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The described SSPEs are formed from a first solvent, an optional second solvent, a crosslinker, a lithium salt, and an initiator. The unique coordination structure of the described SSPEs yields non-flammable, low-volatility, non-vaporizable, high Coulombic efficiency (CE), stable solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI)-forming electrochemical devices, such as lithium metal rechargeable batteries, that are easily adaptable to existing mass-production lines.

Abstract: A method of making a composite membrane for a lithium-sulfur (Li—S) battery is described. The method includes providing a polymeric separator membrane; synthesizing a graphene oxide (GO) dispersion; and printing the GO dispersion onto at least one surface of the polymeric separator membrane. The GO coating includes a GO layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of catalysts, and discloses a yolk/shell-type CoxCu1-xCo2O4@CoyCu1-yCo2O4 catalyst as well as a preparation method and application thereof to catalytic hydrogen generation. The preparation method of the yolk/shell-type CoxCu1-xCo2O4@CoyCu1-yCo2O4 catalyst includes the steps of: successfully synthesizing, by applying a hydrothermal synthesis method, a [Co(C6H12N4)2](NO3)2 solid sphere complex from a cobalt salt and hexamethyleneteramine serving as an alkali source; and then, performing calcination to obtain a yolk/shell-type Co3O4 microsphere structure, adsorbing Cu2+ on a surface in a physical adsorption manner, and performing calcination again to form yolk/shell-type CoxCu1-xCo2O4@CoyCu1-yCo2O4.

Abstract: A method of preparing hollow molybdate composite microspheres includes steps of: (1) dissolving 1-4 mmol of MCl2 in 20 ml of water to obtain a solution A and dissolving 1-4 mmol. of molybdic acid in 20 ml of water to obtain a solution B, followed by mixing the solution A and the solution B, in which M is Co, Ni, or Cu; (2) dissolving 10-40 mmol of urea in 40 ml of water, adding the mixed solution of step (1) and stirring uniformly; (3) placing the mixed solution of step (2) into a reaction vessel and reacting at 120-160° C. for 6-12 hours; (4) suction filtrating and water washing, followed by drying in a vacuum oven at 40-60° C.; (5) calcination at 350-500° C. for 2-4 hours in a Muffle furnace.

Abstract: A method for preparing copper-nickel cobaltate nanowires includes steps of: (1) dissolving a soluble nickel salt, cobalt salt and copper salt in ultrapure water, and preparing same into a mixed salt solution A; (2) adding 1-4 mmol of sodium dodecyl sulfate to solution A, and dissolving same with stirring; (3) dissolving 12-30 mmol of hexamethylenetetramine in 20 mL of ultrapure water to form solution B; (4) slowly dropwise adding solution B to solution A via a separatory funnel to form solution C, and stirring same for 0.5-1 h; and (5) further transferring same into a 100 mL reaction vessel, reacting same at 100-160° C. for 8-20 h, suction filtration and washing, and drying same at 40-60° C. in a vacuum oven, and further reacting same at 350-800° C. for 1-4 h in a muffle furnace.

Abstract: A method of preparing hollow molybdate composite microspheres includes steps of: (1) dissolving 1-4 mmol of MCl2 in 20 ml of water to obtain a solution A and dissolving 1-4 mmol. of molybdic acid in 20 ml of water to obtain a solution B, followed by mixing the solution A and the solution B, in which M is Co, Ni, or Cu; (2) dissolving 10-40 mmol of urea in 40 ml of water, adding the mixed solution of step (1) and stirring uniformly; (3) placing the mixed solution of step (2) into a reaction vessel and reacting at 120-160° C. for 6-12 hours; (4) suction filtrating and water washing, followed by drying in a vacuum oven at 40-60° C.; (5) calcination at 350-500° C. for 2-4 hours in a Muffle furnace.