Content area
Full Text
TMS has forged cooperative agreements with several carefully selected organizations that actively work to benefi t the materials science community. In this occasional series, JOM will provide an update on the activities of these organizations. This installment features the Center for Resource Recovery & Recycling (CR3), a research center established by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, and KU Leuven
Lithium ion batteries are currently the system of choice, offering high energy density, fl exible and lightweight design, and long lifespan in comparison to competing battery technologies.1-3 The demand for lithium ion batteries will increase, and the need to recover and recycle them is pivotal.
At present most lithium ion batteries, such as the ones found in cell phones and laptops, are not recycled. At the Center for Resource Recovery and Recyclability (CR3), we believe that such an open loop industrial cycle is not sustainable; it is our strong conviction that we must develop and establish viable lithium ion battery recycling methodologies. The fi rst reason is for environmental concerns. Although lithium ion batteries are called "green batteries," the solvent is fl ammable, and toxic HF can be released when the batteries burn. Second, recycling the batteries is important for economic reasons. The materials used in lithium ion batteries are expensive; the cathode materials for most lithium ion batteries in laptop and cell...