Innovative Tribocatalytic Method Revolutionizes Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries

**Tribocatalytic Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries**

With the rapid progression of global energy storage technologies, systems based on lithium batteries have seen significant development. However, the increasing number of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) each year presents serious environmental challenges, as improper disposal can lead to substantial ecological harm. These retired LIBs contain various valuable materials, including cobalt and lithium. Consequently, the creation of efficient and environmentally friendly recycling processes for used LIBs has become a priority in global academic research.

Researchers have introduced a novel catalytic technology known as tribocatalysis, which has been applied for the first time to recycle and reuse cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. By integrating theoretical calculations—such as electrostatic potential, adsorption energy, and electron density difference—with experimental results, the effectiveness of the tribocatalytic weak-acid leaching process for ion extraction has been confirmed. Additionally, experiments involving electron spin resonance (ESR) and free radical trapping have shown that reactive species generated during the friction process are pivotal for the efficient leaching of various ions from lithium-ion batteries.

Currently, the most commonly used methods to recover valuable materials from spent LIBs are pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. The traditional pyrometallurgical process involves the complete incineration of materials such as acetylene black, organic electrolytes, and binders, resulting in high energy consumption. In contrast, hydrometallurgy has the advantages of milder reaction conditions and higher recovery efficiency; however, it often releases toxic gases such as Cl₂, SO₃, and NOₓ during the process. Furthermore, the recovery procedure becomes more complicated due to the multiple separation and purification steps required for cobalt, lithium, and other components, which can lead to secondary environmental pollution.

According to Professor Changzheng Hu from the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Guilin University of Technology, tribocatalysis effectively addresses these limitations and facilitates the efficient recovery of metal ions from spent lithium-ion batteries. This method has substantial potential to reduce and leach metal ions, thereby alleviating the scarcity of valuable resources while effectively managing waste from lithium-ion power batteries. Such innovations contribute to the promotion of sustainable development within the lithium-ion battery industry.

The research team published their findings in the *Journal of Advanced Ceramics* on June 23, 2025. This study was supported by the Guangxi Science and Technology Plan (Grant Nos. AA25069001, AD25069100).

### About the Journal of Advanced Ceramics

The *Journal of Advanced Ceramics* (JAC) is an international academic journal that showcases cutting-edge results from theoretical and experimental studies on the processing, structure, and properties of advanced ceramics and ceramic-based composites. JAC is fully open access, published monthly by Tsinghua University Press, and exclusively available via SciOpen. In 2024, JAC achieved an impact factor of 16.6, ranking it in the top tier (1/33, Q1) among all journals in the “Materials Science, Ceramics” category, with a CiteScore of 25.9 (5/130) in the Scopus database.

**DOI:** 10.26599/JAC.2025.9221121
**Media Contact:** Mengdi Li, Tsinghua University Press, limd@tup.tsinghua.edu.cn, Office: +86-108-347-0580
**Expert Contact:** Changzheng Hu, Guilin University of Technology, China, huchzh@foxmail.com

**Keywords:** Physical sciences, Materials science
**Copyright © 2025** by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)