Selective liberation in dry milled spent lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have an established role in the consumer electronics markets with minimum risk of replacement from any other contender in the near future. The recent momentum towards electric vehicles and the renewable energy storage market is creating an increased demand for LIBs. The large amount of hazardous waste generated from the disposal of LIBs is driving research into a sustainable approach for LIB treatment and recovery. The positive electrode active materials being the main targeted component as it is the greatest cost contributor to LIBs production. During the production of the positive electrode, a powder of active material typically Lithium Cobalt Oxide is applied to aluminium foil and held together using a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder.