Self-gathering substance might be the solution for recyclable electric vehicle batteries.
MIT Develops Self-Assembling Electrolyte for Recyclable EV Batteries
MIT researchers, led by Yukio Cho, PhD '23, have designed a groundbreaking self-assembling electrolyte for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that could revolutionize the recycling process. The research, published in the journal Nature Chemistry, offers an alternative to the current method of shredding batteries into a mixed, hard-to-recycle mass.
The self-assembled electrolyte can accelerate the recycling process by disassembling the entire battery. When immersed in organic solvents, the material dissolves, allowing for easier separation of battery parts during recycling. When exposed to water, the electrolyte quickly disintegrates into its original molecular components.
Cho and his team used a class of molecules called aramid amphiphiles (AAs) to create the self-assembling electrolyte. These molecules contain polyethylene glycol (PEG) on one end, which can conduct lithium ions. The electrolyte material holds the two battery electrodes together and provides the lithium-ion pathways.
The team includes PhD candidate Cole Fincher, Ty Christoff-Tempesta PhD '22, Kyocera Professor of Ceramics Yet-Ming Chiang, Visiting Associate Professor Julia Ortony, Xiaobing Zuo, and Guillaume Lamour. The approach offers an alternative to shredding the battery into a mixed, hard-to-recycle mass, and the new self-assembling material could be a key factor in the recycling of EV batteries.
When submerged in a simple organic liquid, the electrolyte spontaneously forms nanoribbons with ion-conducting PEG surfaces and bases that imitate the robustness of Kevlar. Cho finds it challenging to convince existing vendors to adopt the new material, but sees potential for easier integration in future battery materials.
The researchers are exploring ways to integrate the material into existing battery designs and new battery chemistries. Cho believes the approach could help reshore lithium supplies by reusing materials from batteries already in the U.S. The work was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.
While Cho believes the material's performance can be optimized further with additional experiments, the potential impact on the EV battery recycling industry is significant. Cho compares the materials' reaction to cotton candy being submerged in water, emphasizing the ease with which the electrolyte disintegrates and reforms. This self-organizing property could pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient recycling process for EV batteries.
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