Efficient regeneration of waste LiFePO4 cathode material by short process low temperature plasma assisted nitrogen doped technology

Recently, the increase in lithium-ion batteries has led to a significant rise in battery scrapping, raising concerns of environmental pollution and resource waste. Therefore, regenerating these discarded lithium-ion batteries has become urgent. In this work, we propose a cost-effective and efficient LiFePO 4 cathode material regeneration technology with nitrogen-doping capabilities. Through plasma discharge, high-energy particles interact with the material's surface, initiating reactions that promote nitrogen-doping. Additionally, the reduction of Fe 3+ impurities to Fe 2+ enhances Li + embedding, thereby inhibiting Fe/Li inversion and achieving structural repair in the process. The regenerated LiFePO 4 , used as the cathode material, exhibits high capacity and cycle performance. It achieves a discharge capacity of 160.2 mA h g −1 at 0.1C and maintains about 146 mA h g −1 at 1C over 200 cycles without significant degradation. Furthermore, the regeneration time is nearly five times shorter than traditional methods. This method's low cost and short processing time provide crucial support for the recycling of waste cathode materials.