EAGER: Sustainable Manufacturing of Lithium Ion Battery for Electric Vehicles Using Recycled Battery Materials

这项探索性研究将创造一种创新的机械混合工艺，以解决电动汽车（EV）电池行业的环境可持续性挑战。该项目将测试一个假设，即废旧锂离子电池中的活性物质可以直接以原始结构回收，与原始材料杂交，然后再用于制造具有理想电化学性能的新型锂离子电池袋电池。该研究将通过数学建模和实验研究相结合的方式进行系统的研究，为电动汽车电池的直接回收利用、混合电极材料科学、袋式电池电化学科学、生命周期评估和技术经济分析提供新的知识。在本研究中，将建立一个新的电化学模型来模拟和优化使用混合活性材料的袋状电池的性能，并通过实验研究来验证和改进。通过开发一个全面的生命周期评估模型和一个基于过程的技术经济分析模型，将量化和评估在新电池制造中使用回收电池材料对环境影响和经济成本的潜在节省。提高环境可持续性和降低锂离子电池的经济成本对于未来电动汽车的大规模部署至关重要。该项目将通过探索性研究为电动汽车电池行业发展循环经济，并通过研究培训、强化课程、行业研讨会/讲习班、新闻发布和Youtube视频教育学生、行业专业人士和公众利益相关者，产生更广泛的影响。研究成果将通过学术期刊、会议演讲和网络媒体传播，旨在提高人们对未来电动汽车行业在可能的循环经济下潜在的环境和经济绩效的理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This exploratory research will create an innovative mechanical hybridization process to address environmental sustainability challenges of the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry. The project will test the hypothesis that the active materials from spent lithium ion batteries can be directly recycled in their original structures, hybridized with their pristine counterparts, and then reused in the manufacturing of new lithium ion battery pouch cells with desired electrochemical performance. The research will be carried out systematically through both mathematical modeling and experimental investigation, to generate new knowledge on direct recycling of EV batteries, material science of hybrid electrode materials, electrochemical science of pouch cells, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis of EV batteries. In this research, a novel electrochemical model will be developed to simulate and optimize pouch cell performance using the hybrid active materials, to be validated and improved through experimental investigation. Potential savings on environmental impact and economic costs from employing the recycled battery materials in new battery manufacturing will be quantified and evaluated through development of a comprehensive life cycle assessment model and a process-based techno-economic analysis model. Improving environmental sustainability and reducing economic cost of lithium ion batteries are critical for future large fleet deployment of EVs. This project will generate broader impacts through exploratory research to develop a circular economy for the EV battery industry and educating students, industrial professionals, and public stakeholders through research training, enhanced curriculum, industrial seminars/workshops, news releases, and Youtube videos. Research results will be disseminated through academic journals, conference presentations, and internet media, with the aim of improving people’s understanding on the potential environmental and economic performance of the future EV industry with a possible circular economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.