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Upcycling spent LiCoO2 battery leachate into Co(OH)2 electrocatalysts for nitrate-to-ammonia conversion
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DOI：10.1007/s11164-026-06066-0.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
The ever-increasing accumulation of spent lithium-ion batteries and nitrate-contaminated wastewater poses serious environmental challenges. Herein, we report a waste-to-value strategy that directly uses the acid leaching solution of spent LiCoO2 battery cathodes as a precursor to electrodeposit Co(OH)2-based electrodes for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia. The effects of coexisting cations (Li+, Al3+, and Cu2+) are systematically investigated. An optimal Li+ molar ratio of 50%, corresponding to the native Li+/Co2+ ratio in the leachate, yields a faradaic efficiency of 86% and an ammonia yield rate of 0.27 mmol cm−2 h−1. Compared with Na+ and K+, Li+ imparts superior activity due to specific structural modulation rather than solution conductivity. Trace Al3+ (~ 1%) induces severe agglomeration of the three-dimensional nanosheet-assembled spheres, lowering the yield rate, while a small amount of Cu2+ (~ 5%) promotes uniform dispersion, boosting the FE to 94% and the rate to 0.32 mmol cm−2 h−1. When both impurities coexist at their actual levels (~ 1% Al3+ and ~ 3% Cu2+), the detrimental effect of Al3+ is counteracted by Cu2+, leading to a well-dispersed morphology. The electrode prepared directly from the authentic leachate achieves an outstanding FE of 96%, 100% ammonia selectivity, and a rate of 0.30 mmol cm−2 h−1. This work provides a sustainable and cost-effective route for upcycling spent batteries into high-performance electrocatalysts for environmental nitrate remediation and ammonia synthesis.
Keywords:
Spent LiCoO2 battery
Acid leachate
Co(OH)2 electrodeposition
Nitrate reduction
Waste-to-value
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