Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Holistic Recycling of Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract As the dominant power source for portable electronics and electric vehicles, lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) face an imminent challenge of managing exponentially growing volumes of end‐of‐life units. Recycling spent LIBs is imperative not only for reclaiming critical metals but also for mitigating environmental hazards and advancing sustainable resource utilization. Recycling methods such as pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct regeneration have their advantages and limitations. This review critically evaluates recent advances in the full recycling of spent LIBs and systematically summarizes the benefits of different recycling technologies. Special emphasis is placed on the advantages of emerging innovative strategies, including rapid heating technology, contact‐electro‐catalysis, external supply technology, and closed‐loop waste self‐recycling technology. Furthermore, the review presents a comprehensive assessment of recycled product identification, the environmental impact, and economic viability. Additionally, the progress in anode and electrolyte recycling is also discussed to underscore the necessity of full‐component recovery. Finally, the prevailing challenges and the future directions are presented for full recycling of spent LIBs, thus contributing to a circular economy in the battery industry.