使用済み電池からリチウムを回収するCO₂ベースの新手法を開発(Chinese Scientists Develop CO2-based Method to Recycle Lithium from Spent Batteries)

2026-03-12 中国科学院(CAS)

中国科学院プロセス工学研究所の孫志教授らは、使用済みリチウムイオン電池からリチウムを回収する新しいCO₂利用型リサイクル法を開発した。二酸化炭素と水のみを用いる「発泡型」プロセスで、電池正極材料を粉砕してリチウムを表面に移動させた後、CO₂を溶解させた水と反応させてリチウムを炭酸水素リチウムとして溶出させる。加熱により純度99.5%以上の炭酸リチウムを回収でき、回収効率は95%以上に達する。残渣は高性能触媒として再利用可能であり、従来の高温冶金や化学処理より低エネルギー・低汚染のグリーンリサイクル技術として期待される。

<関連情報>

リチウム回収と使用済み正極材のアップサイクルを実現する3in1戦略 A three-in-one strategy for lithium recovery and upcycling of spent cathode materials

Yue Wang,Xiaohong Zheng,Weiguang Lv,Li Li,Hongbin Cao & Zhi Sun
Nature Communications  Published:10 January 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67912-0

使用済み電池からリチウムを回収するCO₂ベースの新手法を開発(Chinese Scientists Develop CO2-based Method to Recycle Lithium from Spent Batteries)

Abstract

The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries is essential for sustainable development of clean energy industry. Traditional recycling methods face challenges such as high energy/chemical consumption and limited adaptability. This study introduces a ‘Three-in-One’ strategy that leverages mechanochemical (MC) treatment to enhance lithium recovery, transition metal upgrading, and CO2 sequestration. MC treatment induces micro-segregation of lithium and transition metals, resulting in a structurally disordered material with a Li-rich surface, facilitating selective lithium extraction. Subsequently, CO2 is used as the sole reagent and lithium leaching efficiency exceeding 95% is achieved by forming lithium bicarbonate. Conducted under ambient conditions without additional grinding aids or leaching reagents, this method minimizes environmental impact. Transition metals are simultaneously transformed into high-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, demonstrating an overpotential of 322 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. These catalysts maintain stability over 200 h of operation. This approach not only provides an efficient pathway for lithium recovery but also upcycles spent cathode materials into valuable catalysts, supporting sustainable energy conversion technologies. The strategy is particularly effective for high-Ni cathode systems, offering significant practical advantages.

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