Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives
In the development of sustainable lithium-ion batteries, achieving the efficient and cost-effective recycling of all components, particularly spent graphite (SG) anodes, has become a critical requirement. While considerable efforts have been devoted to recovering and reusing SG materials under conve...
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KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141725000242 |
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| author | Xueqian Li Chenglong Deng Mengyao Liu Jiawei Xiong Xiaodong Zhang Qiaoyi Yan Jiao Lin Cen Chen Feng Wu Yi Zhao Renjie Chen Li Li |
| author_facet | Xueqian Li Chenglong Deng Mengyao Liu Jiawei Xiong Xiaodong Zhang Qiaoyi Yan Jiao Lin Cen Chen Feng Wu Yi Zhao Renjie Chen Li Li |
| author_sort | Xueqian Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the development of sustainable lithium-ion batteries, achieving the efficient and cost-effective recycling of all components, particularly spent graphite (SG) anodes, has become a critical requirement. While considerable efforts have been devoted to recovering and reusing SG materials under conventional conditions, limited attention has been given to recycling under extreme conditions. This review systematically elucidates the main failure mechanisms of graphite anodes, including lithium plating and dendrite formation, solid electrolyte interface film failure, structural degradation, and current collector corrosion, with a particular focus on low-temperature and fast-charging conditions. As a contribution toward optimizing resource utilization, this review comprehensively summarizes the industrial perspective on strategies for recycling SG anodes, which aim to produce high-purity regenerated graphite (RG) powders. We also analyze current methods for modifying RG, such as structural reconstruction and surface reconditioning, to bring added value to modified RG materials. A detailed examination of the technical challenges in SG recycling and RG upgrading is presented, offering guidance for the future development of graphite upcycling technologies. This review also provides valuable insights into achieving high efficiency, intelligence, and sustainability in graphite utilization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5cce1dbfa4b444fad34e0cbb6bb934a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-1417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5cce1dbfa4b444fad34e0cbb6bb934a2025-08-20T03:24:56ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.eScience2667-14172025-07-015410039410.1016/j.esci.2025.100394Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectivesXueqian Li0Chenglong Deng1Mengyao Liu2Jiawei Xiong3Xiaodong Zhang4Qiaoyi Yan5Jiao Lin6Cen Chen7Feng Wu8Yi Zhao9Renjie Chen10Li Li11Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Innovative Research Team in High-Safety Energy Storage System and Smart Microgrids of Guangdong Province, Beijing Institute of Technology (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519088, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Energy Storage and Intelligent Safety, Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, ChinaQuantitative Methodology Program, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, United StatesBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Innovative Research Team in High-Safety Energy Storage System and Smart Microgrids of Guangdong Province, Beijing Institute of Technology (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519088, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Energy Storage and Intelligent Safety, Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Energy Storage and Intelligent Safety, Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, China; Corresponding authors.Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Innovative Research Team in High-Safety Energy Storage System and Smart Microgrids of Guangdong Province, Beijing Institute of Technology (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519088, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Energy Storage and Intelligent Safety, Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Innovative Research Team in High-Safety Energy Storage System and Smart Microgrids of Guangdong Province, Beijing Institute of Technology (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519088, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Energy Storage and Intelligent Safety, Advanced Technology Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Jinan 250300, China; Corresponding authors.In the development of sustainable lithium-ion batteries, achieving the efficient and cost-effective recycling of all components, particularly spent graphite (SG) anodes, has become a critical requirement. While considerable efforts have been devoted to recovering and reusing SG materials under conventional conditions, limited attention has been given to recycling under extreme conditions. This review systematically elucidates the main failure mechanisms of graphite anodes, including lithium plating and dendrite formation, solid electrolyte interface film failure, structural degradation, and current collector corrosion, with a particular focus on low-temperature and fast-charging conditions. As a contribution toward optimizing resource utilization, this review comprehensively summarizes the industrial perspective on strategies for recycling SG anodes, which aim to produce high-purity regenerated graphite (RG) powders. We also analyze current methods for modifying RG, such as structural reconstruction and surface reconditioning, to bring added value to modified RG materials. A detailed examination of the technical challenges in SG recycling and RG upgrading is presented, offering guidance for the future development of graphite upcycling technologies. This review also provides valuable insights into achieving high efficiency, intelligence, and sustainability in graphite utilization.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141725000242Spent lithium-ion batteriesGraphite anodeDegradation mechanismRecyclingRegeneration |
| spellingShingle | Xueqian Li Chenglong Deng Mengyao Liu Jiawei Xiong Xiaodong Zhang Qiaoyi Yan Jiao Lin Cen Chen Feng Wu Yi Zhao Renjie Chen Li Li Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives eScience Spent lithium-ion batteries Graphite anode Degradation mechanism Recycling Regeneration |
| title | Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives |
| title_full | Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives |
| title_short | Reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Progress and perspectives |
| title_sort | reutilization and upcycling of spent graphite for sustainable lithium ion batteries progress and perspectives |
| topic | Spent lithium-ion batteries Graphite anode Degradation mechanism Recycling Regeneration |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141725000242 |
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