Lithium battery recycling encompasses processes and technologies for recovering lithium and other critical metals from spent lithium-ion batteries and natural brines. Approaches include electrochemical separation, membrane-based selective extraction, deep eutectic and switchable solvents, microbial electrochemical systems, and thermal methods such as flash Joule heating and microwave-assisted processing. The field also addresses direct cathode regeneration, electrode material upcycling, and integration with renewable energy, aiming to close material loops, reduce environmental impacts, and secure supply of strategic elements for energy storage technologies.
Energy & Green Tech
Researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor to break down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste—such as drink bottles, nylon textiles and polyurethane foams—using acid recovered from old car batteries, and converting ...
Apr 6, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
A study by the EHU-University of the Basque Country shows how biomass can be used as an alternative in commercial batteries, thus making them more sustainable. The research is published in the Journal of Power Sources. Dr. ...
Apr 1, 2026
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Engineering
The world cannot have enough of the third element on the periodic table. From smartphones and laptops to state-of-the-art EVs, all are powered by lithium batteries. The demand for metal is only going to rise, and projected ...
Engineering
Critical minerals such as those used in lithium-ion batteries come in limited supply and are concentrated in specific regions around the world. Securing a reliable supply of these materials is a priority for governments worldwide, ...
Mar 25, 2026
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Engineering
Bonding lithium metal to a ceramic surface should be a dream team combination for creating solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, getting them to bond is the hard part. Impurity layers tend to form on the surface, ...
Mar 24, 2026
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Engineering
There is a new, U.S.-based, environmentally friendly method for mining rare-earth elements used in consumer electronics, clean energy, defense and biomedical imaging. By using oxalic acid made by sugar-eating engineered yeast, ...
Mar 16, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Cobalt and nickel are vital components for batteries, superalloys and catalysts, used in technologies ranging from smartphones to jet engines. But when it comes to recycling, they are notoriously difficult to separate because ...
Engineering
New research shows pre-treatment in lithium-ion battery recycling drives environmental impact and recovery of valuable metals—yet it is often overlooked in recycling strategies. Published in Nature Sustainability, the Monash ...
Mar 11, 2026
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Engineering
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are primarily thought of as environmental pollutants, and most research on them focuses on removing them from the environment. Rice researcher James Tour, however, has ...
Mar 10, 2026
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Engineering
Rechargeable batteries are everywhere—from portable electronic devices and electric vehicles to renewable energy storage. Battery failures are often due to the loss or chemical degradation of the electrolyte.
Mar 5, 2026
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