Direct regeneration to prepare lithium iron phosphate cathode material from spent LiFePO4 batteries via sol-gel method

Developing sustainable recycling methodologies becomes imperative with the escalating global consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric vehicles (EVs). Aside from developing new materials for lithium-ion batteries, the regeneration of spent lithium-ion batteries is also of great interest owing to the rising concern of environmental conservation. This study presents a pioneering approach that involves the direct regeneration of spent LiFePO₄ via a novel sol-gel method. The effect of varying the calcination temperature of the LiFePO₄ was investigated via various structural and electrochemical analyses. The results from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that an elevation in temperature significantly enhances the structural integrity and morphological characteristics of the regenerated LiFePO₄, as well as the phase purity of the material. Electrochemical evaluations on the regenerated LiFePO₄ demonstrated an elevated electrochemical performance compared to the spent LiFePO₄. The findings of this research reveal the optimal calcination temperature suitable for the direct regeneration of spent LiFePO₄ via the sol-gel method.