Patent ID: 8846225
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: B02C,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method for making recycled positive-electrode material for a lithium-ion energy-storage device, the method comprising: harvesting lithium-deficient positive-electrode material from a recycling or waste stream; placing the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material in a pressure vessel containing an aqueous solution comprising lithium ions; processing the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material in the pressure vessel to replenish at least some lithium in the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material by diffusing lithium into a lattice of the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material, wherein processing the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material comprises suspending the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material in the aqueous solution comprising lithium ions and hydrothermally reacting the lithium-deficient positive-electrode material with the aqueous solution comprising lithium ions in the pressure vessel at elevated temperature and pressure to form a hydrothermally reacted positive-electrode material, the elevated temperature being in a range of 100-300 degrees Celsius; after forming the hydrothermally reacted positive-electrode material, removing the hydrothermally reacted positive-electrode material from the aqueous solution comprising lithium ions and then sintering the hydrothermally reacted positive-electrode material to form the recycled positive-electrode material.