Performance of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 prepared from spent lithium-ion batteries by a carbonate co-precipitation method

Spherical LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode particles were resynthesized by a carbonate co-precipitation method using spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a raw material. The physical characteristics of the Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3CO3 precursor, the (Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)3O4 intermediate, and the regenerated LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material were investigated by laser particle-size analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance of the regenerated LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 was studied by continuous charge-discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry. The results indicate that the regenerated Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3CO3 precursor comprises uniform spherical particles with a narrow particle-size distribution. The regenerated LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 comprises spherical particles similar to those of the Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3CO3 precursor, but with a narrower particle-size distribution. Moreover, it has a well-ordered layered structure and a low degree of cation mixing. The regenerated LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 shows an initial discharge capacity of 163.5 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C, between 2.7 and 4.3 V; the discharge capacity at 1 C is 135.1 mA h g−1, and the capacity retention ratio is 94.1% after 50 cycles. Even at the high rate of 5 C, LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 delivers the high capacity of 112.6 mA h g−1. These results demonstrate that the electrochemical performance of the regenerated LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 is comparable to that of a cathode synthesized from fresh materials by carbonate co-precipitation.