Recycled graphite/metal oxide composite: From dead Li-ion cell to live Zn-ion storage

Disposal of used Li-ion cells should be carefully addressed considering the impact of the active materials, environmental pollution, and toxic nature. In this work, using a simple solution process, materials from the dead Li-ion cells were recycled. Here, the metal particles from the cell are leached out successfully and the filtered graphite powder with residual metal oxide composite of interest is investigated. Further, the obtained composites were used as cathodes in Zn-ion batteries. The formation of NiMn2O4/γ-MnO2/ and graphite composite has been confirmed using X-ray diffraction analysis. Surface morphology and mixed phase structure of the composite were evidenced using FESEM and TEM analysis. After the resurrection, the electrochemical properties of NiMn2O4/MnO2 graphite composites were thoroughly examined by electrochemical analysis. The electrochemical Zn-ion storage behavior of the recovered composite materials was investigated in both half-cell and full-cell configurations using ZnSO4 and MnSO4 mixed electrolytes. The half-cell performance delivered a specific capacity of 423.5 mAh g−1 at 2.9 A g−1 for the composite. Further, the pouch-type full-cell was fabricated using the NiMn2O4/MnO2 graphite, and metallic Zn, PVA-MnSO4-ZnSO4 gel as cathode, anode, and electrolyte, respectively. The cell performance at the different current rates and the cycle life of the Zn-ion cells were recorded, and its practical viability was demonstrated by glowing the LED's.