Towards Environmentally Friendly High-Energy Cathodes for Sustainable Lithium-Ion Batteries

The EU-funded collaborative MARS-EV Project (FP7, grant agreement 609201) has been targeting inter alia the
realization of aqueous electrode processing technologies for high-energy lithium-ion positive electrodes with a
particular focus on achieving the high recycling requirements established by the European Commission in its
Battery Directive 2006/66 EG, stipulating a minimum recycling rate of 50%. Indeed, the aqueous electrode
fabrication does not only allow for avoiding the use of environmentally hazardous, toxic, and expensive organic
solvents as well as the need for super-dry conditions up to the cell assembly, but moreover a facilitated recycling
process due to the water-soluble binding agents. Additionally, of great importance with regard to the latter is the
careful selection of the cathode chemistry – not least with respect to economic aspects.
Herein, we summarize the results and progresses obtained within MARS-EV, highlighting their importance for
the realization of environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries for a sustainably electrified transportation.