Second life of lithium-ion batteries may propel future space missions

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 19, 2024

Lithium-ion battery usage worldwide has doubled in the past four years, contributing to a growing volume of hazardous battery waste. This rise underscores the urgent need for more effective recycling solutions. Scientists from several Polish research institutions, including Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology (PBS), the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS in Warsaw, and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, have introduced a promising approach in the journal ‘ChemElectroChem’.

The research focused on carbon materials extracted from the electrodes of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The team employed an acidic leaching process to recover valuable metals from these electrodes. Depending on experimental conditions, the extracted carbon materials retained trace amounts of metals like cobalt, commonly used in catalysis. The goal was to repurpose these materials for use in catalytic processes, with a particular emphasis on hydrogen peroxide production.

“Hydrogen peroxide is one of the fundamental chemical molecules, essential to numerous industries. Large-scale production of this substance typically demands high pressures and temperatures, costly catalysts, and various toxic electrolytes. Our focus was on developing a more environmentally friendly method for producing hydrogen peroxide: specifically, an electrochemical approach using catalysts derived from used lithium-ion batteries,” explains Dr. Eng. Magdalena Warczak (PBS), project leader and lead author.

The team’s electrochemical tests demonstrated that carbon nanostructures and cobalt recovered from the batteries exhibited catalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction. However, these properties were influenced by the composition and structure of the sample, which were determined by the types of etching baths used to clean the extracted electrodes.

“For potential future applications, the crucial finding is that, based on data gathered from experiments using a rotating electrode, we were able to determine the number of electrons involved in the reduction of a single oxygen molecule. The electrochemical reduction of oxygen can occur with either four or two electrons. In the case of four electrons, water is produced, but with two electrons, we obtain the desired hydrogen peroxide. In all the samples we tested, we observed the two-electron reduction,” explains Dr. Warczak.

To ensure accuracy, the measurements were repeated with battery powders suspended between two immiscible liquids, eliminating any influence from the glassy carbon electrode. The oxygen reduction reaction occurred spontaneously at the interface of these liquids, with the organic liquid containing decamethylferrocene, an electron donor. These experiments confirmed that all samples catalyzed the production of hydrogen peroxide, with concentrations measured by a scanning electrochemical microscope showing levels one to two orders of magnitude higher than those in systems without battery waste.

“Lithium-ion batteries have generally been viewed as just a secondary source of carbon materials, mainly graphite, and metals like lithium, cobalt, or nickel. Meanwhile, our group’s findings clearly demonstrate that battery waste can catalyze the reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, and in the future, this could lead to its use in producing this important chemical compound,” concludes Dr. Warczak.

Hydrogen peroxide, commonly found in pharmacies at a 3% concentration for disinfecting wounds, has a range of industrial applications. Solutions with up to 15% concentration are used in household cleaning products and cosmetics, while concentrations of around 30% are vital in industries such as chemical manufacturing, pulp and paper, textiles, electronics, and food processing. Hydrogen peroxide also serves as an oxidizer for fuels, including rocket propellants. During the 1940s, it was first used in early rockets capable of reaching space. Recently, hydrogen peroxide at concentrations exceeding 98% powered a suborbital rocket built by the Lukasiewicz Institute of Aviation in Warsaw.

The research on hydrogen peroxide production from spent lithium-ion batteries, initially funded by a SONATA grant from the Polish National Science Centre, will continue with a focus on enhancing the efficiency of electrochemical reactions for industrial use. The team also plans to explore four-electron reduction for potential applications in fuel cells.

Research Report:Insights into the High Catalytic Activity of Li-ion Battery Waste Toward Oxygen Reduction to Hydrogen Peroxide

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Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology

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Solar on track for another record year: report

by AFP Staff Writers

Paris (AFP) Sept 18, 2024

The solar industry is due to grow by nearly a third in 2024, beating forecasts as it adds 593 gigawatts of additional capacity, the majority of them in China, according to a report released on Thursday by the Ember think tank.

“This is a 29 percent increase compared to the previous year, maintaining strong growth following an estimated 87 percent surge in 2023,” the report said.

“Yet again, solar power is growing faster than people expected, as it establishes itself as the cheapest source of electricity globally,” said Euan Graham, electricity data analyst at Ember.

Illustrating the lightning speed at which solar is growing, Ember projections show that new solar capacity added in 2024 alone will be more than the 540 GW of additional coal power added around the world since 2010.

China remains the world leader in the sector and is expected to add 334 GW, or 56 percent of the world total in 2024.

It is followed by the United States, India, Germany and Brazil, with the top five countries accounting for 75 percent of the new solar capacity in 2024, the report said.

Grid capacity and battery storage were key to maintaining growth in the sector, the report said.

“As solar becomes more affordable and accessible, ensuring sufficient grid capacity and developing battery storage is crucial for handling power distribution and supporting solar outside of peak sunlight hours,” it said.

“By addressing these challenges and sustaining growth, solar power could continue to exceed expectations for the remainder of the decade.”

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Airbus to Provide Over 200 Sparkwing Solar Arrays for MDA AURORA Satellites

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 17, 2024

Airbus has been selected by MDA Space Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a global leader in advanced space technology and services, to supply solar arrays for its MDA AURORA TM software-defined satellite product line. This satellite system aims to expand communication networks across the world by enabling satellite constellations for improved global connectivity.

Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver over 200 Sparkwing solar arrays, which will be manufactured at its high-capacity facility in Leiden, the Netherlands. These solar arrays, the largest Sparkwing version to date, feature two wings with five panels each, covering a total photovoltaic area of more than 30 square meters.

MDA’s AURORA TM supply chain is designed to support Telesat’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation Lightspeed, an advanced network providing enterprise-class connectivity to customers globally.

“We are delighted to be selected as the supplier of solar arrays to partner with MDA Space for Telesat Lightspeed. Our industrialised Sparkwing solar array product not only meets the demands of this ground-breaking constellation project, but is also tailored to ensure optimal performance in space. The Sparkwing solar arrays are designed for series production, ideally suited for constellations, and we will accordingly contribute to a project enabling space connectivity,” said Rob Postma, Managing Director of Airbus in the Netherlands.

MDA’s AURORA TM satellite product line is designed to address evolving technical and business needs in the satellite industry, providing unmatched flexibility and functionality. This allows operators to significantly improve the performance of satellite constellations while reducing costs and accelerating time to market.

Sparkwing is the first commercially available, off-the-shelf solar array for small satellites. Initially optimized for Low Earth Orbit missions needing power between 100W and 2000W, it offers customers various panel dimensions and configurations. The arrays can be arranged into wings with one to three panels per wing and require minimal integration effort. The product has evolved to meet the growing demands of higher power missions in LEO and beyond.

The Sparkwing product was developed by Airbus in the Netherlands with support from the Netherlands Space Office and ESA.

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MDA Space

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