Speaker

Dr. Hosop Shin, Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become ubiquitous in a broad range of applications, including consumer electronics, automotive, and stationary grid storage systems. The global demand for LIBs is surging, driven primarily by the worldwide commitment to decarbonizing the transportation sector through electrification, a crucial step in addressing climate change and establishing a clean-energy economy. However, the rapid expansion in LIB demand lacks a sustainable end-of-life strategy, raising concerns about the environmental impacts of discarded LIBs and the resilience of the critical battery material supply chain. In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need to develop green and cost-competitive recycling technologies for the effective recycling and reuse of LIBs. This not only helps alleviate materials scarcity and enhances environmental sustainability, but also contributes to building a more secure and resilient supply chain with a circular approach. Recognizing the urgency of this matter, government funding agencies and companies are increasingly directing resources towards research to pave the way for a sustainable future of LIBs.

This presentation will delve into innovative processes for the recycling and reusing of cathode active materials, which represent the most valuable components of end-of-life LIBs. The discussion will commence by exploring the degradation mechanisms of LIBs at the material and system levels, emphasizing the fundamental principles for the recovery and rejuvenation of spent cathode materials. Following this, a green solvent-based recovery process will be introduced, designed to reclaim cathode materials and Al foils without compromising their physical characteristics, crystalline structure, and electrochemical performance. This process targets electrode scraps and spent LIBs, providing an environmentally friendly approach to cathode recovery. Lastly, the presentation will highlight direct cathode regeneration approaches aimed at rejuvenating degraded cathodes, ensuring their suitability for reuse in future battery manufacturing.

Bio

Dr. Hosop Shin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at IUPUI (2018-2020) and worked as a research scientist at Nissan Technical Center North America (2016-2018). Prior to this, he held the position of postdoctoral research fellow in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2015-2016). He holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a B.S degree in Automotive Engineering from Kookmin University in South Korea. Dr. Shin’s research is dedicated to unraveling the degradation mechanisms of energy storage materials and systems, with a particular focus on devising strategies to tackle safety, energy density, cycle life, and sustainability challenges of both Li-ion and beyond Li-ion batteries. His research has received funding from various federal and industrial grants, including NSF, Samsung, and Nissan. In 2022, he was honored with the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award and Samsung GRO Award.