Methods and systems for reclamation of Li-ion cathode materials using microwave plasma processing
Assignee6K Inc.
InventorsRichard K. Holman, Gregory M. Wrobel
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems and methods for recycling used solid feedstocks containing lithium powders for use in lithium-ion batteries. The used solid feedstocks may be Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) materials. In some embodiments, the used solid feedstock can undergo a microwave plasma process to produce a newly usable, lithium supplemented solid precursor with augmented chemistries and physical properties.
Claims16
A method for synthesizing lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) powder in a microwave plasma apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a feedstock to the microwave plasma apparatus, the feedstock comprising end-of-life NMC powder, the end-of-life NMC powder having an average nickel to cobalt ratio of 5:2 or less;
- and
- introducing the feedstock into a microwave-generated plasma of the microwave plasma apparatus to synthesize an NMC powder having an average nickel to cobalt ratio greater than 5:2.
A method for synthesizing lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) powder in a microwave plasma apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a feedstock to the microwave plasma apparatus, the feedstock comprising end-of-life NMC powder, the end-of-life NMC powder and having an average nickel to cobalt ratio of 5:2 or less;
- and
- introducing the end-of-life NMC powder into a microwave-generated plasma of the microwave plasma apparatus to synthesize an NMC powder,
- wherein the end-of-life NMC powder is not reduced to its constituent elements prior to introducing the end-of-life NMC powder into the microwave-generated plasma.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.