TOPIC #18
Salt conversion of lithiated transition metal oxide for Li-ion battery recycling
Research area: Battery Manufacturing & Recycling
Keywords: Molten salts; layered oxide; ionic exchange; solid-state reaction
Supervising team:Damien DAMBOURNET (Sorbonne Université) & Jacob OLCHOWKA (Université de Bordeaux)
Abstract
The objective of this project is to increase the current knowledge of the reactivity of cathode layered materials in molten salt medium targeting the full conversion of these oxides into salts readily soluble into water, and therefore suitable for being used as precursors for cathode material synthesis. The project aims to build a new area of research by developing knowledges into the chemistry of recycling of spent positive electrode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
In this context, this project seeks to explore the following aspects:
(i) Describe reaction mechanisms between layered oxide materials (both originated from electrode scraps and from black mass) and various molten salts including hydrogeno-sulfate/carbonate.
(ii) Isolate intermediate phases and conduct a full structural investigation using short and long-range order probes.
(iii) Investigate pertinent reaction parameters to build a finer understanding of the salt-conversion approach.
This project will gather different expertises from PHENIX in terms molten salt medium, structural characterization and ICMCB in terms of material recycling, battery operating principle, structural characterizations (Jacob OLCHOWKA).
Interest for the student
Expected mobility: The two partners (PHENIX and ICMCB) have agreed on the following mobility for the PhD student:
- Year1: 10 months in year 1 spent at the PHENIX to learn and become independent on the salt conversion approach and routine and advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction (RT and variable-temperature experiments.
- Year1: 2 months in year 1 spent at the ICMCB to learn the basics in terms of battery manufacturing and operating principle.
- Year2: Extensive experimental works from lab to synchrotron experiments.
- Year3: (i) application of the salt conversion approach on back mass samples, (ii) PhD thesis writing and defense.
Punctual missions to the ICMCB, which has long-standing expertise in battery materials and their advanced characterization, is also planned to conduct in-depth characterization of the local structure (Raman, ss-NMR) of the obtained hydrogenosulfate phases.
This project gathering the fields of materials science and solid-state chemistry applied to energy and recycling, this will be the opportunity for the student to apply to various events such as conferences and workshops with the objective to attend to at least one or two major international conferences for presenting (orally) her/his work.
Career opportunities: The recycling field is currently driven by the EU Battery Directive (EU) No 2023/1542 targeting at least 50% of spent batteries. In this context, it becomes a hot topic and being a part of this project, the PhD student will have a unique opportunity to develop his expertise in a field, which will face an important need for employment in the near future. However, this topic being materials science related, this will not limit the PhD candidate to battery recycling. Indeed, the methodology as well as the characterization tools will be similar projects related to materials science. All these skills will be valuable for any materials science related position.
Contacts
IMPORTANT: you may contact the potential supervisors to have more information about the topic, however, sending them your application directly is not permitted.
