Spent-NMC532 to metal phosphide anodes for sustainable Li-ion batteries
Anjali V NAIR, Shantikumar NAIR, Dhamodaran SANTHANAGOPALAN
Abstract. Critical minerals for battery applications have been of global interest and recycling (or urban mining) of end-of-life Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is important for sustainability. It is expected that by 2030, 11 million tons (cumulatively) of LIBs will be available for recycling, which results in e-waste blooming and environmental concern. It is important to tackle and manage the spent LIBs by recycling and regeneration, enabling a circular economy. It also helps to create a sustainable environment and alleviate raw material scarcity by eliminating other environmental hiccups like mining and extractions. In this work, spent cathode with LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 (NMC532) composition is recycled and utilized as an anode for LIBs. For recycling purposes, we have utilized harmless sulfur-based organic acids, which has been reported for the first time for NMC532 and the extracted mixed-metal compounds (in the form of oxalates) have been regenerated to mixed-metal phosphides, that was used as anode materials for fresh Li-ion battery applications. We have investigated the structural, morphological and electrochemical performance of the anode materials. The metal phosphides delivered better rate capability, cycle life and reasonable capacity compared to oxides. Further performance improvements are necessary, as we have demonstrated only 100 cycles with the half-cells. A strategic approach to reduce the e-waste and effectively reuse it in batteries to enable a circular economy has been demonstrated.
Keywords
Spent Li-ion Batteries, Recycling, Regeneration, Organic Acid, Circular Economy, Sustainability
Published online 6/20/2026, 7 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Anjali V NAIR, Shantikumar NAIR, Dhamodaran SANTHANAGOPALAN, Spent-NMC532 to metal phosphide anodes for sustainable Li-ion batteries, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 103-109, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-15
The article was published as article 15 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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