Current Situation and Development Prospects of Discharge Pretreatment during Recycling of Lithium‐ion Batteries: A Review

As the first step in recovering the decommissioned lithium‐ion battery cells, discharge pre‐treatment of decommissioned lithium‐ion batteries plays an important role in ensuring the safety of the subsequent recovery process and improving the comprehensive benefits of lithium‐ion battery recycling. However, current research on the recovery process of decommissioned lithium‐ion batteries focuses on how to efficiently recover elements through fire and wet methods, as well as improve the recovery of active substances by direct reduction. Therefore, this review focuses on the latest research progress of lithium‐ion battery discharge pretreatment, shows the advantages and disadvantages of various existing lithium‐ion battery discharge pretreatment technologies, and analyzes the development potential of discharge pretreatment technologies in further energy recovery, increasing cathode lithium content, and reducing the pollution of active substances. This paper aims to further review and look forward to the development of discharge pretreatment technology and provide a new perspective for improving the comprehensive benefits of the lithium‐ion battery recycling process. Discharge pretreatment of retired Li‐ion batteries: This review analyzes the research on discharge pretreatment of retired Li‐ion batteries, shows the advantages and disadvantages of various existing lithium‐ion battery discharge pretreatment technologies. By considering the process characteristics of discharge pretreatment and the benefits of the entire recycling process, the development potential of discharge pretreatment technologies in further energy recovery, increasing cathode lithium content, and reducing the pollution of active substances are discussed.