Bioinspired Injection Therapy for Spent LiFePO4 Batteries: A Non-Invasive Strategy for Capacity Regeneration and Longevity Enhancement

The widespread deployment of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄, LFP) batteries has intensified the imperative to address the disposal challenges associated with retired LFP batteries, given their rapidly growing volumes. However, existing regeneration techniques remain constrained by their inherent complexity, high energy demands, and limited scalability, posing significant barriers to achieving efficient and economically viable solutions. Herein, inspired by medical injection therapy, a novel, non-invasive strategy for direct capacity rejuvenation is proposed by injecting recovery reagents into spent LFP batteries, circumventing the need for disassembly. This innovative approach leverages the I₃^-/I^- redox couple to activate residual/dead lithium on the graphite anode and selectively re-engineer the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), preserving its functional components while optimizing interfacial dynamics. The restored lithium from the anode serves as an intrinsic source to replenish lithium deficits and rectify Li-Fe antisite defects within the degraded LFP cathode. The resulting regenerated pouch cells demonstrate remarkable recovery of electrochemical capacity, accompanied by superior kinetics performance and significantly extended cycle life. This pioneering strategy not only delivers an energy-efficient and cost-effective pathway for LFP battery regeneration but also holds transformative potential to redefine sustainable practices in lithium-ion battery reuse, thereby advancing their practical applications and prolonging their service life.