Carbon powder material obtained from an innovative high pressure water jet recycling process of tires used as anode in alkali ion (Li, Na) batteries

During the last years, with the development of the battery technology, besides Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries have been extensively studied as well. However, some disadvantages and issues, such as the impossibility to use the graphite as anode material, are still to be overcome. At the same time, environmental problems push researchers to develop practical and convenient ways to perform useful materials recycling. In this context, the present work evaluates an innovative high pressure water jet recycling process of tires to produce a carbon material to be used as anode in alkali ion (Li, Na) batteries. Prior to be used, the carbon was washed with a solution of sulfuric acid and then pyrolysed. This obtained material was characterized by using SEM and EDX analysis, while a preliminary electrochemical characterization has been performed by charge/discharge cycles in galvanostatic mode at C/10 rate. A comparison between Li and Na intercalation has been carried out. For Li-ion batteries capacities of about 290 mAh g−1 have been obtained, while for Na-ion batteries a capacity of 140 mAh g−1 has been achieved.