Study on the synthesis of NiCo2O4 as lithium-ion battery anode using spent LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 batteries

In this paper, the recycling of spent LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 lithium-ion battery cathode materials was achieved successfully combined with the synthesis of NiCo2O4 anode material. Hydrometallurgical technology was adopted in the recycling of spent LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 lithium-ion battery cathode materials, and sol–gel method was adopted in the synthesis of NiCo2O4 anode material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that NiCo2O4 anode material is composed of 22–25-nm nanospheres. In the rate test, NiCo2O4 anode material showed excellent rate performance: the corresponding discharge capacities were stable at 1257, 1160, 1014, 837, and 703 mAh·g−1 when the current density was 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mA·g−1, respectively. When the current density returned to 100 mA·g−1, the average capacity could be restored to 1025 mAh·g−1.