Manganese-based metal organic framework from spent Li-ion batteries and its electrochemical performance as anode material in li-ion battery

Herein, we report a method of recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) cathode materials by utilizing them as a metal feedstock for the synthesis of Mn-based metal-organic frameworks (Mn-MOF). Spent cathodes were converted to manganese salts using acids (HCl and H₂SO₄) and reacted with commercial benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H₂BDC), as an organic linker. The LIB-derived metal salts were compared to commercial available MnCl₂ salt in the formation of Mn-MOFs. Mn-MOFs from spent LIBs (MOF(Cl₂) and Mn-MOF(SO₄)) exhibited similar morphological, structural and textural properties when compared to that obtained from commercial MnCl₂ salt. HCl obtained MOF (Mn-MOF(Cl₂)) was analysed for electrochemical properties due to its superior structural properties. It achieved coulombic efficiency of approximately 99% and discharge capacity of 1355 mAh g⁻¹ as compared to Mn-MOF obtained using commercial salt (Mn-MOF(Com)) with a discharge capacity of 772.55 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 cycles. The developed LIBs recycling strategy has the potential for contributing to existing LIBs recycling strategies and as well to the circular economy.