Machine Learning assisted electrodeposition process for sustainable spent lithium-ion battery recycling

Research Project, 2024 – 2026

With an increasing market share of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly for electromobility and renewable energy storage, we’re facing a future with a substantial number of used batteries. These batteries do not last forever, and they wear out after thousands of cycles. By 2030, there will be two million metric tons of used LIBs each year. These batteries are not just trash. They contain dangerous materials that can harm the environment, like heavy metals and toxic fluorine-containing electrolytes. European Union has recently set an ambitious target for battery recycling, requiring a clearly legible and indelible indication of recycled metals, e.g., cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) used in battery production. To achieve this target for environment protection and circular economy, it is of great importance to develop advanced and sustainable battery recycling technologies. This feasibility study project will explore the use of electrochemical deposition techniques for efficient and sustainable LIB recycling.