Research Progress on Recycling and Regeneration of Spent Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathode Materials
MENG Xianghao1,2, YAO Yaochun1,2,*, HU Haozheng1,2
1 School of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Technology, Kunming 650093, China 2 National Engineering Laboratory of Vacuum Metallurgy, Kunming University of Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Abstract: With the widespread adoption of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage, efficient recycling of end-of-life LFP batteries has gained significant urgency. This review begins by examining pretreatment processes for spent batteries and provides a systematic analysis of recent advances in recycling technologies for LFP cathode materials, with a focus on two primary strategies:elemental recovery and direct regeneration. Elemental recovery techniques mainly involve leaching processes using inorganic acids (e.g., H2SO4, HCl) or organic acids (e.g., citric acid, oxalic acid), frequently assisted by oxidizing agents (e.g., H2O2) or mechanochemical activation. These methods achieve high extraction efficiencies for lithium, iron, and phosphorus, with lithium leaching rates typically exceeding 95%. While offering advantages such as mild operating conditions and high metal recovery, these processes are often hampered by complex flowsheets, high wastewater treatment costs, and substantial reagent consumption. Direct regeneration approaches, including solid-state sintering, hydrothermal treatment, and electrochemical relithiation, aim to repair the degraded cathode structure while largely retaining the original crystalline framework. These methods significantly reduce energy consumption and secondary pollution. The regenerated materials exhibit electrochemical performance close to that of pristine counterparts, delivering specific capacities up to 160 mAh·g-1. However, the efficacy of direct regeneration highly depends on feedstock homogeneity and is sensitive to impurities. Scalability remains constrained by the need for precise control and high equipment costs. Future advancements should emphasize the integration of intelligent sorting systems, optimization of hybrid processing routes, and implementation of closed-loop recycling designs to overcome existing technical barriers and promote the development of sustainable and efficient recycling pathways for LFP batteries.
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