Upgrading waste LiMn₂O₄ cathode for efficient photothermal polyester recycling.

Authors

Xiangxi Lou, Penglei Yan, Qingqing Zhang, Binglei Jiao, Zhongyu Li, Panpan Xu, Muhan Cao, Jinxing Chen, Qiao Zhang

Published in

Science bulletin. Sep 30, 2025. Epub Sep 30, 2025.

Abstract

Addressing the dual challenges of solid waste pollution and resource scarcity, the upcycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) into catalysts for plastic recycling presents a compelling sustainable solution. We come up with an innovative dual-waste co-recycling strategy that simultaneously achieves high-value reutilization of low-cost spent lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes and efficient depolymerization of diverse polyester wastes. Crucially, the lithium-deficient nature of spent LMO drives partial Mn³⁺-to-Mn⁴⁺ conversion within Mn-O octahedral units, which not only reinforces adsorption and activation of polyester molecules, but also heightens. To be more specific, degraded LMO exhibits 17.5-fold higher activity than pristine counterparts in glycolysis. In comparison with conventional methods, techno-economic analysis confirms the strategy's economic viability, while lifecycle assessment reveals a 98.2 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 98.5 % decrease in fossil resource consumption. This work establishes a sustainable pathway for upcycling both LIBs and plastic waste, offering a scalable blueprint for advancing circular economy paradigms.

PMID:
41077499
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Oct 2025.

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