News

Materials extraction and direct routes for the synthesis of electrodic materials

15/03/2023

VITO has developed the Gas-Diffusion Electrocrystallisation (GDEx) technology for various metal extraction processes. The GDEx technology utilises gas-diffusion electrodes to recover and synthesise different electrodic materials in the form of precipitates containing the desired metals. This process has shown promising results in metal recovery and selectivity, particularly for different metal extraction process.

The GDEx team has conducted experiments with synthetic solutions to optimise the metal recovery yield and selectivity by investigating the effect of different metal precursor solution to the process. Once the GDEx process is optimised with synthetic streams and the precipitating mechanisms are better understood, the team plans to extend the process to various spent battery waste products obtained from consortium partners. The process will involve precipitation in the form of layered-double hydroxides, and the team will investigate the downstream steps required to obtain recycled battery-cathode material. This is an important step towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the battery industry.

Find out more information about the GDEx process at http://gdex.vito.be

Publication: Synthesis of material libraries using gas diffusion electrodes. Mater. Chem. A, 2020,8, 11674-11686