Pyrometallurgical recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries

The global importance of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)has been increasingly underscored with the advancement of high-performance energy storage technologies.However,the end-of-life of these batteries poses significant challenges from environmental,economic,and resource management perspectives.This review paper focuses on the pyrometallurgy-based recycling process of lithium-ion batteries,exploring the fundamental understanding of this process and the importance of its optimization.Centering on the high energy consumption and emission gas issues of the pyrometallurgical recycling process,we systematically analyzed the capital-intensive nature of this process and the resulting technological characteristics.Furthermore,we conducted an in-depth discussion on the future research directions to overcome the existing technological barriers and limitations.This review will provide valuable insights for researchers and industry stakeholders in the battery recycling field.

Dissolution of TiO_(2) and TiN inclusions in CaO–SiO_(2)–B_(2)O_(3)-based fluorine-free mold flux

Mold flux serves the crucial metallurgical function of absorbing inclusions, directly impacting the smoothness of the casting process as well as the cast slab quality. In this study, the dissolution behavior and mechanism of Ti O_(2)and Ti N inclusions in molten Ca O–Si O_(2)–B_(2)O_(3)-based fluorine-free mold flux were explored by in situ single hot thermocouple technology combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.The results showed that Ti O_(2) inclusions are effectively dissolved by the molten slag within 76 s, during which the original octahedral [Ti O_(6)]^(8-)structures are destroyed and convert to the networker tetrahedral [Ti O_(4)]^(4-)structures. However, the dissolution rate is much lower for Ti N inclusions than for Ti O_(2)inclusions. This can be attributed to the fact that the Ti N particles need to be oxidized and then dissolved in the molten slag to form tetrahedral [Ti O4]4-and octahedral [Ti O_(6)]^(8-)structures during the Ti N inclusion dissolution process, which is accompanied by the generation of a large amount of N_(2)gas. Moreover, Ca Ti O_(3)crystals tend to nucleate and grow on bubble surfaces with sufficient octahedral [Ti O_(6)]^(8-)structures and Ca^(2+)ions, eventually resulting in the molten slag being in a solid–liquid mixed state.

Homogenization on solution treatment and its effects on the precipitation-hardening of selective laser melted 17-4PH stainless steel

17-4 precipitation-hardened(PH)stainless steel(SS)exhibits high strength and good corrosion resistance via Cu-precipitation hardening.Unlike conventional wrought 17-4PH SS,Cu segregation andε-Cu pre-cipitates are observed in additively manufactured(AM)17-4PH SS owing to the repeated rapid cooling after heating,which characterizes the AM process.In this study,solution treatment was conducted under various temperatures(1,000,1,050,1,100,and 1,200℃)and durations(1,2,4,and 8 h)to minimize the negative effects of Cu segregation andε-Cu precipitates on precipitation hardening.The mechanical prop-erties and microstructures of each condition for the Cu precipitation behavior were examined.Although theε-Cu precipitates did not disappear after solution treatment,the average diameter of theε-Cu precipi-tates tended to decrease with increasing solution treatment temperature and duration.Therefore,solution treatment at a temperature of 1,200℃ for 8 h was the best,resulting in improved strength compared to the conventional solution treatment at 1,050℃.Solution treatment on at least 1,100℃ is effective in AM.

Compositional dependence of thermophysical properties in binary alkaline earth borate melts:Insights from structure in short-range and intermediate-range order

In this work,the thermal conductivity of alkaline earth borate melts was measured using hot-wire method from 1323 to 1623 K,and the thermal diffusivity was extrapolated from the thermal conductivity and heat capacity.The compositional dependence of thermophysical properties was interpreted according to the structure in short-range and intermediate-range order.Based on the Raman spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and 11B magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance(MAS-NMR)spectra,modifier cation with higher field strength prefers the formation of non-bridging oxygens(NBOs)for the charge compensation at high BO_(1.5)/MO ratios.A lower amount of covalent bond and greater isolation of large borate groups lead to a lower thermal conductivity in calcium borate melt compared with strontium and barium borates.But the large size of Ba^(2+)encounters difficulty in fitting around B^[4]-OB^[4]linkages inside the overcrowded large borate groups when BO_(1.5)/BaO=2.5,promoting the formation of NBOs on the edge of borate groups for the charge compensation of modifier cations and leading to the decline in the thermal conductivity.Thermal conductivity plays a major role in regulating the thermal diffusivity at a given temperature since the compositional dependence of volumetric heat capacity is relatively weak compared with that of thermal conductivity.