Greener/ more efficient battery recycling uses molten salt to directly restore structure/ performance of used high-nickel cathode materials

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1104099

"restores original cathode material for reuse in new batteries... ternary molten salt (heated: lithium hydroxide, lithium nitrate, lithium salicylate)... high-nickel NCM811 loses lithium/ develops structural defects, restored moving lithium ions into damaged material/ reorganizes atoms to original ordered layered structure/ unwanted surface rock salt layer removed... achieves 196 mAh/g initial discharge capacity, maintains 76% of that capacity after 200 cycles... operates at relatively low temperatures, no: strong acids/ toxic solvents"

Related:

New recharge-to-recycle reactor turns battery waste into new lithium feedstock
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1105397

How battery charging led to a breakthrough in lithium recycling
https://newatlas.com/energy/battery-charging-lithium-recycling/