Study of sample preparation method for fluorescent X-ray analysis of recycled lithium-ion battery raw materials

Abstract

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular toward carbon neutrality, and recycling of rare metals (Li, Ni, Co, Mn) from used LIB is essential for the stable supply of LIB. The treatment conditions of the recycled LIB vary, and the particle size and components of the obtained black mass powder sample are inhomogeneous. It is also known that the Al component used in the battery exterior and the current collector undergoes an alloying reaction with Ni and Co in the process of heat treatment and exists in an inhomogeneous state.

In this study, we examined a sample preparation method for the purpose of accurately analyzing the composition of rare metals and impurity components in black mass samples by X-ray fluorescence analysis. Rare metals and impurity components were analyzed by using standardless FP method for black mass samples obtained by different sample preparation methods, and differences with ICP emission analysis values were compared.