A study of the addition of g-C3N4 in direct regeneration of spent LiFePO4 battery cathodes on the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIB)

LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries are the predominant lithium-ion batteries utilized in electric vehicles, owing to their sufficient specific capacity. The extensive utilization results in heightened LFP waste, contributing to environmental pollution. Consequently, the recycling of LFP to reclaim lithium, iron, and phosphorus is essential for their reapplication as cathodes. The direct regeneration method effectively restores the structure of LFP and improves its electrochemical performance. This study investigates the incorporation of g-C3N4 as sources of carbon and nitrogen. The process of regenerating LFP required calcination for 8 and 10 h. The results indicated the development of an orthorhombic LiFePO4 structure in the regenerated LFP. The optimal specific capacity and enhanced electrochemical performance were obtained with LFP regenerated with 10 wt% g-C3N4, calcined for 8 h, achieving 135.50 mAh/g. Therefore, the findings suggest that direct regeneration could act as a viable alternative to the recycling of spent LFP cathodes.