Manganese-Based Metal Organic Framework from Spent Li-Ion Batteries and its Electrochemical Performance as Anode Material in Li-ion Battery

Herein, we report a method of recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) cathode materials by utilizing them as a metal feedstock for the synthesis of Mn-based metal-organic frameworks (Mn-MOF). Spent cathodes were converted to manganese salts using acids (HCl and H2SO4) and reacted with commercial benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H2BDC), as an organic linker. The LIB-derived metal salts were compared to commercial available MnCl2 salt in the formation of Mn-MOFs. Mn-MOFs from spent LIBs (MOF(Cl-2) and Mn-MOF(SO4)) exhibited similar morphological, structural and textural properties when compared to that obtained from commercial MnCl2 salt. HCl obtained MOF (Mn-MOF(Cl-2)) was analysed for electrochemical properties due to its superior structural properties. It achieved coulombic efficiency of approximately 99% and discharge capacity of 1355 mAh g(-1) as compared to Mn-MOF obtained using commercial salt (Mn-MOF(Com)) with a discharge capacity of 772.55 mAh g(-1) at 100 cycles. The developed LIBs recycling strategy has the potential for contributing to existing LIBs recycling strategies and as well to the circular economy.