Graphene composites from recycling lithium-ion batteries

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are widely commercially used in portable electronic devices, power tools, medical devices, hybrid/electric vehicles due to their relatively low weight, high energy density, high operating voltage and low discharge rate. The accelerated production has translated into large amount of battery waste that has dangerous to our environment and therefore recycling is a paramount. Currently graphite is still the choice of lithium ion battery (LIB) anode in various commercial applications and therefore is one of major materials that are present in battery waste and that they need to be recycled or reused in some different applications. In this PhD project we wish to develop graphene composite materials from waste anode graphite materials, as a high value product which could be used in water purifications or/and for battery re-use. At Newcastle we have developed methods of making ultra light graphene composite from nanographite which will be extended to waste graphite anode materials in this project.  

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