Past trends and future directions for circular economy in electric vehicle waste battery reuse and recycling: A bibliometric analysis

• Publications on EV battery reuse and recycling surged since 2021. • China leads in publication volume, while US excels in international collaboration. • Research targets key metal recovery for sustainable battery production. • Central South University and Oak Ridge Lab are key to EV battery recycling research. • Research clusters focus on performance, environmental impact, and recovery techniques. The production of lithium-ion batteries involves considerable consumption of rare earth elements and poses environmental risks. Consequently, technologies aimed at managing battery waste have become crucial from the perspectives of the circular economy (CE) and environmental sustainability (ES). Herein, we underscore the importance of reuse and recycling technologies for electric vehicle batteries, which are crucial for material recovery and reduction of environmental impact. Using bibliometric analysis, this study meticulously examined and analyzed scholarly articles related to reuse and recycling technologies for spent batteries based on data from the Web of Science databases. We applied bibliometric analysis to a dataset of 137 research articles, selected via an expert-developed, keyword-focused query and refined using the PRISMA methodology. Specifically, this study focuses on assessing the relationship of these clean technologies with CE and ES and exploring their interconnections and the importance of technological development in the field. Relating the technological findings to economic efficiency and eco-friendliness provides a clear understanding of potential directions for reuse and recycling techniques. Furthermore, this study suggests effective collaborative strategies in this field. Our comprehensive approach not only deepens the understanding of the subject but will also guide future research and development efforts in battery lifecycle management.