Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting

New recycling method replenishes lithium in electrodes while keeping existing structure intact - and performance is nearly as good as new ones

05-May-2021 - The proliferation of electric cars, smartphones, and portable devices is leading to an estimated 25 percent increase globally in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries each year. Many raw materials used in the batteries, such as cobalt, may soon be in short supply. The European Commission is ...

BASF and Eramet partner to assess the development of a nickel-cobalt refining complex to supply growing electric vehicle market

17-Dec-2020 - BASF and Eramet have signed an agreement to jointly assess the development of a state-of-the-art nickel and cobalt hydrometallurgical refining complex. Such a development would include a High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) plant and a Base Metal Refinery (BMR). The HPAL would be located in Weda ...

Scientists create three-dimensional nanostructures using ion beams

For tomorrow’s computers

21-Oct-2020 - Effects at the interface between magnetic and non-magnetic layers have been exploited for data storage for three decades. This has led to a steady increase in hard drive storage capacity and is one reason why researchers see potential for ushering data processing into a new era. One way these ...

An unusual cobalt compound

Interesting for applications in the field of battery or accumulator production

15-Jun-2020 - Searching for small but stable cobalt compounds, a team has discovered a complex that is relevant for material research and exhibits properties that have not been reported for almost 50 years for a compound alike. A research team from Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and Carleton University in ...

Cobalt-based catalysts promise to enhance heavy oil extraction

18-Feb-2020 - Despite the large number of existing reagents, research is ongoing in the world to obtain universal catalysts that are distinguished by their efficiency, low cost and neutral impact on the environment. After conducting laboratory studies, KFU scientists were able to create a new type of reagent ...

BASF announces Schwarzheide, Germany, as location for cathode active material production in Europe

13-Feb-2020 - BASF is announcing a new battery materials production site in Schwarzheide, Germany, as part of its multi-step investment plan to support the European electric vehicle (EV) value chain. This state-of-the art plant will produce cathode active materials (CAM) with an initial capacity enabling the ...

'Artificial leaf' successfully produces clean gas

23-Oct-2019 - A widely-used gas that is currently produced from fossil fuels can instead be made by an 'artificial leaf' that uses only sunlight, carbon dioxide and water, and which could eventually be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to petrol. The carbon-neutral device sets a new ...

Spontaneous occurrence of skyrmions in atomically thin cobalt films observed

27-Aug-2019 - Since their experimental discovery, magnetic skyrmions - tiny magnetic knots - have moved into the focus of research. Scientists from Hamburg and Kiel have now been able to show that individual magnetic skyrmions with a diameter of only a few nanometres can be stabilised in magnetic metal films ...

Umicore to acquire cobalt refinery and cathode precursor operations in Finland

Through this acquisition Umicore expands its integrated battery materials footprint

27-May-2019 - Umicore announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Freeport Cobalt’s cobalt refining and cathode precursor activities in Kokkola, Finland, for a total consideration of $ 150 million on a debt and cash free basis, plus the value of the working capital to be taken over at closing, which ...

New 'blue-green' solution for recycling world's batteries

Scientists show solvent leaches cobalt, lithium for reuse from spent batteries

03-Apr-2019 - Rice University researchers literally have a solution to deal with the glut of used lithium-ion batteries left behind by the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles, cellphones and other electronic devices. The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan used an environmentally friendly ...