Strategic Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling for Global Resource Challenges

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) market, projected to reach approximately 3 TWh by 2030, raises critical concerns about resource scarcity and supply chain stability for key cathode materials. Consequently, advanced recycling and reuse technologies for LIBs are becoming increasingly essential—not just for effective waste management, but also to ensure sustainable and reliable raw material supply chains. In this perspective, we categorize recycling approaches for nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cathodes and assess their advantages and limitations for practical commercialization. We argue that the successful integration of recycled materials into precursor cathode production critically depends on overcoming challenges related to impurity control, energy efficiency, and structural stability of recycled materials. Looking forward, we propose that future research should prioritize selective impurity removal to enhance electrochemical properties of the final NMC cathode material, as residual impurities from the recycling process may negatively impact the overall performance of LIBs.