Sustainable catalysts from battery waste: Extraction and catalytic potentials of delithiated cathodes in energy and environmental applications

Abstract

This review focuses on the extraction of lithium-ions (Li⁺) from the cathode of spent lithium-ion batteries (SLIB) and application of the delithiated cathode in catalytic reactions. Li⁺ has been extracted from SLIB through electrochemical and chemical leaching methods. Despite challenges for extraction of Li⁺, delithiated cathode materials demonstrate substantial catalytic efficiency in water electrolysis, dye photodegradation, and photoelectrochemical applications. This enhanced catalytic performance is attributable to the favorable catalytic properties of the transition metal oxide components and numerous catalytically active defects and oxygen vacancies formed by delithiation. The findings underscore the potential of recycling SLIBs into valuable catalysts for environmental and energy-related applications, emphasizing the transformation of waste into resource through efficient material reutilization.