Effect of organic solvent additives on the enhancement of ultrasonic cavitation effects in water for lithium-ion battery electrode delamination.

Ultrasonic delamination is a low energy approach for direct recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries. The efficiency of the ultrasonic delamination relies both on the thermophysical properties (such as viscosity, surface tension, and vapour pressure) of the solvent in which the delamination process is carried out, and the properties of the ultrasound source as well as the geometry of the containment vessel. However, the effect of tailoring solutions to optimise cavitation and delamination of battery cathode coatings has not yet been sufficiently investigated.

Observation of cavitation dynamics in viscous deep eutectic solvents during power ultrasound sonication.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a class of ionic liquid with emerging applications in ionometallurgy. The characteristic high viscosity of DESs, however, limit mass transport and result in slow dissolution kinetics. Through targeted application of high-power ultrasound, ionometallurgical processing time can be significantly accelerated.

A mechanistic study identifying improved technology critical metal delamination from printed circuit boards at lower power sonications in a deep eutectic solvent.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of ionic liquids that offer a solution to reclaiming technology critical metals (TCMs) from electronic waste, with potential for improved life cycle analysis. The high viscosities typical of DESs, however, impose mass transport limitations such that passive TCM removal generally requires immersion over extended durations, in some cases in the order of hours. It is postulated that, through the targeted application of power ultrasound, delamination of key structures in electronic components immersed in DESs can be significantly accelerated, thereby enabling rapid recovery of TCMs.