The Effect of Excessive Sulfate in the Li-Ion Battery Leachate on the Properties of Resynthesized Li[Ni(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)]O(2)

In order to examine the effect of excessive sulfate in the leachate of spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs), LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) (pristine NCM) and sulfate-containing LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) (NCMS) are prepared by a co-precipitation method. The crystal structures, morphology, surface species, and electrochemical performances of both cathode active materials are studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and charge-discharge tests. The XRD patterns and XPS results identify the presence of sulfate groups on the surface of NCMS. While pristine NCM exhibits a very dense surface in SEM images, NCMS has a relatively porous surface, which could be attributed to the sulfate impurities that hinder the growth of primary particles. The charge-discharge tests show that discharge capacities of NCMS at C-rates, which range from 0.1 to 5 C, are slightly decreased compared to pristine NCM. In dQ/dV plots, pristine NCM and NCMS have the same redox overvoltage regardless of discharge C-rates. The omnipresent sulfate due to the sulfuric acid leaching of spent LIBs has a minimal effect on resynthesized NCM cathode active materials as long as their precursors are adequately washed.