Methods and systems for scalable direct recycling of batteries

A system, comprising:

• a first device configured to process at least one battery into a plurality of core sections, each core section in the plurality of core sections comprising an anode section, a cathode section including a cathode material, a separator section disposed between the anode section and the cathode section;
• and an electrolyte;
• and
• a second device configured to receive the plurality of core sections and dissolve the plurality of core sections so as to produce a mixture of cathode materials from the plurality of core sections, wherein the solvent and the electrolyte form an ionic conductive medium, and the mixture of the cathode materials is characterized by a substantially homogeneous distribution of an active element in the cathode material.

A method for recycling at least one battery, the method comprising:

• cutting a plurality of lithium ion batteries into a plurality of core sections, a first lithium ion battery in the plurality of lithium ion batteries having a first state of charge and a second lithium ion battery in the plurality of lithium ion batteries having a second state of charge different from the first state of charge, each core section in the plurality of core sections comprising an anode section including an anode material, a cathode section including a cathode material, a separator section disposed between the anode section and the cathode section, and an electrolyte;
• disposing the plurality of core sections into a solvent so as to produce a mixture of cathode materials and anode materials from the plurality of core sections, wherein the solvent and the electrolyte form an ionic conductive medium, and the mixture of the cathode materials and the anode materials includes a nonstoichiometric compound of an active element in the cathode material and is characterized by a substantially homogeneous distribution of the active element in the cathode material;
• extracting the cathode materials from the mixture of the cathode materials and the anode materials;
• and
• relithiating the cathode materials extracted from the mixture of the cathode materials and the anode materials to produce a battery-grade cathode material.