Review of the application of ionic liquid systems in achieving green and sustainable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Over the past few years, the proliferation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as pivotal energy storage solutions has surged dramatically. However, this widespread adoption has come with a significant downside: the accumulation of substantial quantities of discarded LIBs. From the perspective of green production and industrial development, the problem of recycling spent LIBs urgently needs to be addressed. Based on the physicochemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), as well as their potential in LIB recycling, this paper proposes the concept of the Ionic Liquid System, including ILs and DESs. The aim is to systematically outline the application of the Ionic Liquid System in the LIB recycling industry. Ionic Liquid System reagents are considered environmentally friendly green solvents due to their biodegradability. Here, we discuss laboratory research on the recovery of spent LIBs using similar system solvents based on studies reported over the past decade and categorize recent laboratory work, while evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of the application of the Ionic Liquid System. This article explicitly provides an effective reference for recycling spent LIBs through the Ionic Liquid System and prospects for future work on recycling spent lithium batteries.