Organic Ion-Mediated Electrostatic Shielding Facilitates Membrane-Free Electrochemical Hydrogen Production Coupling with LiFePO4 Recycling

Abstract

A membrane-free electrolysis is developed that synergistically integrates hydrogen generation with the recycling of spent LiFePO₄ (LFP) batteries. The redox cycling of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl enables efficient electron transfer from LFP. An electrostatic shielding mechanism is employed by adding polyquaternium-7 to the electrolyte. This approach effectively minimizes the unwanted reduction of redox-active species by repelling them electrostatically from the electrode surface.