Discarded car batteries are giving new life to Graphite. Recycled graphite from used electric car batteries may be the future way to save natural graphite and produce better graphene at the same time. Chalmers, Grafren and Chalmers Industriteknik are currently investigating these possibilities.
Large-scale production of graphene depends on the dissolution of graphite. The possibility of using graphite from used electric car batteries as a raw material for the production of graphene is currently being tested.
– Here we work with graphite that would otherwise be thrown away. We want to create sustainable graphene production and make useful products from what would otherwise be thrown away. It’s a great job, says Martina Petranikova, a battery researcher at Chalmers’ department for mechanical engineering.
The amount of graphite used
According to Circular Energy Storage, the global production of lithium-ion batteries in 2022 reached about two million tons, and is expected to increase to at least four million tons in the next three years.
Each lithium-ion battery contains approximately 18% graphite by weight. This means that 400,000 to 800,000 pieces of graphite will be mined, added to the value chain and eventually wasted at the end of the battery’s life. Now the mountain of graphite can be used for other purposes.
– Today, graphite-containing materials from electric car batteries are considered as waste and burned for recycling some metals. We see a huge opportunity to change that, says Sofia Öiseth, project manager at Chalmers Industriteknik.
A durable product
In the long term, the results should reduce the impact of climate change by using existing carbon at a reasonable cost. In the short term, the most important and most powerful thing in the world must be created in a sustainable way and give new opportunities to Swedish companies.
– Now we are moving forward by creating this magic to build a truly sustainable world. It is not only about sustainable graphene, but many sustainable products thanks to the multifunctionality of the material, explains Erik Khranovskyy, CEO of the company Linköping Grafren, which organizes the project.
Source: Chalmers Industriteknik
