Methods for electrochemical cell remediation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024347799-A1
Application number	US-202318526405-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 1, 2023
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Oct 17, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to methods for the remediation of electrochemical cell electrodes. In some embodiments, a method includes obtaining an electrode material. At least a portion of the electrode material is rinsed to remove a residue therefrom. The electrode material is separated into constituents for reuse.

First claim

1 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . A method for recycling electrode material, the method comprising:
separating the electrode material from a current collector with substantially no current collector material present in the electrode material after separation; rinsing the electrode material with an organic solvent; and separating the electrode material into a first portion and a second portion, the separating performed using at least one of air classification, field flow fractionation, or electrophoresis.

34 . The method of claim 33 , further including:
combining a first additive with at least one of the first portion or the second portion to alter a stoichiometry and/or a crystallinity thereof.

35 . The method of 34 , wherein the first portion includes an active material and the seconds portion includes a second additive, the second additive being conductive.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the electrode material is a cathode material, and the first additive is a lithium-containing additive.

37 . The method of claim 34 , further including:
heating the first additive and at least one of the first portion or the second portion to produce a remediated electrode material.

38 . The method of claim 33 , wherein separating the electrode material from the current collector further includes using at least one of a centrifuge, filtration, sieving, and sedimentation.

39 . The method of claim 33 , wherein rinsing the electrode material includes immersing at least a portion of the electrode material in the organic solvent.

40 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the solvent removes a residue, the residue including at least a portion of an electrolyte salt, an electrolyte solvent, and a reaction product, the reaction product including a solid electrolyte interphase material.

41 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the organic solvent includes at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane.

42 . A method for recycling electrode material, the method comprising:
obtaining an electrode material with substantially no current collector material present in the electrode material after separation; rinsing the electrode material with a solvent; and separating the electrode material into constituents, the separating performed using at least one of air classification, field flow fractionation, or electrophoresis.

43 . The method of claim 42 , further including:
combining a first additive with at least one of the first portion or the second portion to alter a stoichiometry and/or a crystallinity thereof.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the constituents include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an active material, the second portion including a second additive, the second additive being conductive.

45 . The method of 44 , wherein the electrode material is a cathode material, and the second additive is a lithium-containing additive.

46 . The method of claim 42 , further including:
heating the second additive and at least one of the first portion or the second portion to produce a remediated electrode material.

47 . The method of claim 42 , wherein separating the electrode material from the current collector further includes using at least one of a centrifuge, filtration, sieving, and sedimentation.

48 . The method of claim 42 , wherein rinsing the electrode material includes immersing at least a portion of the electrode material in the solvent.

49 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the solvent removes a residue, the residue including at least a portion of an electrolyte salt, an electrolyte solvent, and a reaction product, the reaction product including a solid electrolyte interphase material.

50 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the solvent includes at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane.

51 . A method for recycling semi-solid electrode material, the method comprising:
removing substantially all of the semi-solid electrode material from a current collector; removing residue from the semi-solid electrode material by rinsing the semi-solid electrode material with an organic solvent; and separating the semi-solid electrode material into a first portion and a second portion the first portion including an active material and the second portion including a conductive additive.

52 . The method of claim 51 , further including:
combining a second additive with at least one of the first portion or the second portion to alter a stoichiometry and/or a crystallinity thereof.

53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the semi-solid electrode material is a cathode material, and the second additive is a lithium-containing additive.

54 . The method of claim 51 , further including:
heating a second additive and at least one of the first portion or the second portion to produce a remediated semi-solid electrode material.

55 . The method of claim 51 , wherein separating the semi-solid electrode material from the current collector further includes using at least one of a centrifuge, filtration, sieving, and sedimentation.

56 . The method of claim 51 , wherein rinsing the semi-solid electrode material includes immersing at least a portion of the semi-solid electrode material in the organic solvent.

57 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the residue includes at least a portion of an electrolyte salt, an electrolyte solvent, and a reaction product, the reaction product including a solid electrolyte interphase material.

58 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the organic solvent includes at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane.

Assignees

• 24M Tech Inc

Inventors

• Chiang Yet-Ming
• Woodford William Henry
• Yu Hiuling Zoe

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M6/52 Primary

  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste cells or batteries {, e.g. recycling} · CPC title

• Y02W30/84

  Recycling of batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M10/54 Primary

  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators · CPC title