PFI-TT: Device to Recycle Scrap Cathodes in Lithium-Ion Battery Factories

这一创新技术转化伙伴关系(PFI-TT)项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是安全地回收锂离子电池制造设施中产生的废阴极材料。这项拟议的创新可能会带来许多社会经济效益，例如创造新的就业机会，减少从矿山中提取稀有元素的需要，如锂，通过减少对进口电池材料的依赖来改善国家安全，以及降低电动汽车和可再生能源储存的电池成本。在更广泛的教育成果方面，几名研究生和本科生将直接接受开发新技术的培训。学生们还将学习技术翻译和创业。此外，通过该项目提供的夏令营，STEM学生将从领导力和创业培训中受益，这最终将使STEM劳动力做好更好的准备，最终增强并为美国以技术为基础的经济做出贡献。该项目有可能提高对回收能源材料的科学和技术理解，同时为可持续和环境友好的行业做出贡献。拟议的项目旨在解决与直接从锂离子电池制造废料中回收正极活性材料相关的独特挑战，目标是将回收的材料返回供应链。该项目寻求克服两大技术障碍。首先，该项目的目标是在考虑溶解性、毒性、安全性、可回收率和成本限制的同时，实现不同阴极活性材料的溶剂混合物配方。其次，该项目旨在展示废旧回收机的性能，这将包括两个独立的步骤：“过程和方法识别”和“机器组装、测试和概念验证演示”。据测算，该机可节省锂离子电池制造设施正极材料消耗10%-15%，从而降低国内锂离子电池制造成本4%-6%。通过这个项目，研究团队将推进聚合物溶剂混合配方的基础知识，并探索混合对阴极活性材料可能造成的损害，以及溶剂的可恢复性、安全性和环境影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project is to safely recycle materials from scrap cathodes generated in manufacturing facilities of lithium-ion batteries. This proposed innovation could lead to numerous socioeconomic benefits, such as creating new jobs, reducing the need for extraction of rare elements from mines, e.g. lithium, improving national security by decreasing reliance on imported battery materials, and decreasing the battery cost for electric vehicles and for renewable energy storage. In terms of broader educational outcomes, several graduate and undergraduate students will be directly trained in developing new technologies. Students will also learn about technology translation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, through summer camps offered in this project, STEM students will benefit from the leadership and entrepreneurship training, which will ultimately better prepare the STEM workforce to ultimately enhance and contribute to the U.S. technology-based economy. This project has the potential to enhance scientific and technological understanding of recycling energy materials while simultaneously contributing to a sustainable and environmentally friendly industry.The proposed project aims to address the unique challenges associated with the direct recycling of cathode active materials from lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap, with the goal of returning the recycled materials to the supply chain. The project seeks to overcome two major technological hurdles. First, the project aims to achieve a formulation for solvent blends for different cathode active materials while considering solubility, toxicity, safety, recoverability, and cost constraints. Second, the project aims to demonstrate the performance of the scrap recycling machine, which will involve two discrete steps: "process and method identification" and "machine assembly, testing, and proof-of-concept demonstration." It is estimated that this machine can save 10-15% of the cathode material consumption of lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities, thereby reducing the cost of domestic lithium-ion battery manufacturing by 4-6%. Through this project, the research team will advance the fundamental knowledge of polymer solvent blending formulation and explore the effect of the blend on possible damages to cathode active materials, as well as the recoverability, safety, and environmental impacts of the solvent.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.