Planet and energy · 1 min read
Two substances discharge battery cells from within
In the lab, ferrocene and phenothiazine lowered charged-cell voltage to about 0.1 V. In another test, phenothiazine mobilized deposited lithium.
The study, in plain language
Used lithium-ion batteries can retain residual energy and have deposited lithium, both of which complicate recycling. An external short circuit is not useful for some cells with a broken circuit or electrically isolated lithium. The team tested introducing redox-shuttle solutions to deactivate them from within.
With ferrocene or phenothiazine, charged cells’ open-circuit voltage fell from 4.1 to about 0.1 V. In a separate test, phenothiazine dissolved deposited lithium in prepared cells and returned it to the positive electrode as mobile ions. These were laboratory tests on specific pouch cells, not a test at a recycling plant.
The key idea
In laboratory tests, two substances brought charged cells’ voltage close to zero. In another test, phenothiazine mobilized deposited lithium.
Something to think about
Even after a device stops working, its battery may retain residual energy. How can a cell’s voltage be lowered before recycling it?
The original study
Battery deactivation with redox shuttles for safe and efficient recycling
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
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