Jens Markowski1, Prof. Harvey Arellano-Garcia1, André Meissner2, Prof. Jörg Acker2,
1 Brandenburg University of Technology Department of Process- and Planttechnology Burger Chaussee 2 03044 Cottbus Germany (Corresponding author:
2 Brandenburg University of Technology Department of Physical Chemistry Universitätsplatz 1 01968 Senftenberg
Abstract: Automotive technology is increasingly determined by drives based on electric motors in combination with batteries. The lithium-ion traction battery is a storage medium that combines high electrical efficiency with compact dimensions and relatively low weight. For the recycling of the cathode coatings (esp. Ni, Mn, Co) and peripheral battery components a variety of recycling options already exist. The graphite coating of the anodes has hardly been the focus of research activities to date. State of the art is currently the melting of the complete Copper-anode foils including graphite coating, whereby the graphite contributes only as a carbon carrier to the recycling of the copper. Separation and reuse of the very high-quality graphite on an industrial scale has not yet taken place. At the BTU, a methodology has been developed, with which recovered anode graphites from traction batteries can be comprehensively characterised chemically and mechanically-physically. On this basis, targeted preparation for secondary applications is possible. The secondary graphites achieve a quality that allows them to be reused as second-use anode material and for other applications.
Keywords: Graphite Recycling, Li-Ionen-Traction Batteries