Lithium-Ion Battery discharging using commonly available salts for application in field use.

Transportation of damaged, defective, or recalled (DDR) lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) of is an important emerging issue as the use of electronic vehicles (EVs) and other LIB based items proliferate. Additionally, since these battery cathodes are made up of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), there is an interest in the safe recovery of critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and other scarce resources from this source. These DDR LIBs must be de-energized to safe voltage levels, identified as below 1.0 V, to reduce the risk of fire and explosion during transport from crash sites, floods, wildfires, etc. Sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions are typically used to electrochemically discharge LIBs, but these solutions can cause battery terminals to corrode, leading to solid residue, fluoride ion buildup, release of toxic gases to the air, and release of corrosion solids and battery electrolytes into the solution. Because of these drawbacks, alternatives for discharging DDR LIBs must be sought. In this project, different LIB discharge methods identified in the literature will be tested for their ability to adequately de-energize DDR LIBs to a safe level, and the environmental effects of these methods (e.g., off-gassing, waste, etc.) will be evaluated to find an effective, safe, and environmentally-sound replacement for NaCl solutions. The potential alternatives that have been identified are iron sulfate (FeSO4), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sugar. These were specifically identified as each is readily available are common grocery or home goods stores and would thus be available to on-scene coordinators responding to a disaster scene. The environmental impact of these different discharging methodologies will be evaluated via the analysis of any byproduct formation and monitoring of physical battery condition during discharge.

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