Advances in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes: Prospects and Challenges in Recycling

Lithium-ion batteries are already playing a key role in the move from fossil fuels towards clean andrenewable energy systems. This is because variabilities in renewable energy grids need to be supported byvery stable storage mechanisms (batteries). In electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are also veryimportant and determine applicability on the target vehicle. At their end-of-life, substances contained inthem make it impossible to be discarded in an uncontrolled way. Moreover, the batteries contain criticalmetals that need to be recovered. While there are currently numerous studies on recycling of the cathodematerials, there is very scarce research on how electrolytes impact recycling. This research reviews andenumerates on the advances in lithium-ion battery electrolytes in the context of recycling.