Grant: Alliance Grants

Critical minerals are the foundation on which modern technology is built upon; securing a stable critical mineral value chain is essential for future generations in Canada. The overachieving goal of the proposed research is to build a close loop of critical mineral elements in batteries (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, LIBs) by efficient recycling/upcycling technologies, making significant contributions to environment and sustainability. By collaborating with industrial partners, the research team aims to i) developing novel hydrometallurgical approach for effective collection of critical mineral elements including Li, Co, Ni, and graphite as well; ii) developing new strategies for efficient regeneration/upcycling of LIBs electrode; iii) developing technologies for other batteries recycling/reusing.The success of the proposed research brings economic, social and environmental benefits for Canada by realizing the collection and reutilization of these elements in spent batteries, and build a close loop of these critical minerals elements. It will significantly lower the price of LIBs dominated portable devices and vehicles, making them affordable to Canadians. It will also make significant contributions to not only the environment but also the national security of Canada by reducing the dependence on several key critical minerals. Considering the booming energy market, the success of the research will also help position Canada's leading role in suppling the world with responsibly sourced products, mitigating the risk of global supply chain disruption. The collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of the proposed research will provide extensive and diverse training opportunities in broad area. Highly qualified personnel (HQP) is expected to gain fundamental knowledges in many disciplines, hands-on skills and experiences, and leaderships through systematic study and training. Well-trained HQP will play key roles in both academia and relevant industries in the future, ensuring Canada's leadership in critical minerals for green and sustainable world.