About the Seminar:

Widescale use and demand for rechargeable batteries must address the critical need for battery material recycling to alleviate supply chain challenges and reduce the environmental impact of putting spent batteries in landfills.  Layered transition metal oxide cathodes based on iron and manganese, with the formula Na_xFe_1-yMn_yO₂ (NFMO), are a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, but their recycling capabilities are relatively unexplored. In this talk, we propose a general recycling strategy for NFMO and derivatives by using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to dissolve spent NFMO cathode materials, followed by antisolvent recrystallization. Characterization of metal speciation in DESs with in-situ UV-Vis Spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy will be explored. Antisolvents, or solvents added to reduce the solubility of metal complexes in solution, will be evaluated for their reuse capabilities in DES and how efficiently metal salts can be precipitated from the solution.   Solvent properties, like viscosity, vapor temperature, and stoichiometry, will be monitored using techniques such as vibrational viscometry, thermogravimetric analysis, mass spectroscopy, NMR, and IR spectroscopy, specifically identifying considerations for solvent reuse. Finally, solvent influence on the speciation of metal salt precipitates will be characterized with X-ray diffraction and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy.