Clean energy tech needs to be designed for recycling, experts say
Take EV batteries, which are composed of anywhere from lots to thousands of specific, hermetically-sealed cells glued together inside modules and packs. Styles that use fewer adhesives might assist enhance EV battery recycling tremendously. If batteries were easier to take apart down to the specific cells, Harper states it could make it simpler to recover vital materials inside the cathode, consisting of lithium, which is seldom recycled today. For EV battery makers who do not desire to ditch glue-based designs, there are “a huge number of methods out there” that might lead to a more de-bondable adhesive, says Jenny Baker, a battery storage expert at Swansea University in the UK.”The thing is now to take some of the science and attempt and move it into the engineering side so that we can get it ready for truly large-scale recycling due to the fact that we understand there’s going to be a lot of these batteries coming through,” Baker states.
Styles that utilize less adhesives might assist enhance EV battery recycling profoundly. If batteries were much easier to take apart down to the individual cells, Harper says it might make it simpler to recuperate crucial materials inside the cathode, including lithium, which is rarely recycled today. For EV battery makers who do not want to ditch glue-based designs, there are “a huge number of methods out there” that might lead to a more de-bondable adhesive, states Jenny Baker, a battery storage specialist at Swansea University in the UK.