Cornell's DEER method streamlines lithium battery recycling

Researchers at Cornell University have found a way to rejuvenate lithium battery electrodes without fully disassembling them. The DEER method electrochemically dissolves interphase layers using DMI solvent, retaining up to 95% capacity while cutting recycling costs by more than half.

• DEER method regenerates electrodes without fully dismantling the battery
• Regenerated cells retain up to 95% of original capacity
• Recycling costs drop by more than 50%
• The process uses 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) as solvent