10th Anniversary of Batteries: Second-Life Applications and Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries

Dear Colleagues,

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to rise globally, the question of how to manage retired Li-ion batteries becomes increasingly pressing. While these batteries may no longer meet the rigorous demands of automotive use, they often retain a significant portion of their capacity and functionality. This has sparked growing interest in second-life applications for retired EV batteries, including stationary energy storage, grid stabilization, and other innovative uses. Moreover, recycling Li-ion batteries is crucial for recovering valuable materials and reducing the demand for critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel—resources that are finite and linked to significant environmental impacts during extraction. Together, second-life applications and recycling form an essential part of the circular economy for Li-ion batteries, fostering resource conservation, minimizing waste, and reducing environmental harm. However, numerous challenges remain in fully realizing the potential of these emerging sectors, including technological, economic, and logistical barriers.

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advances and future trends in the second-life applications and recycling of Li-ion batteries, emphasizing their pivotal role in enhancing the sustainability of energy storage systems. Through this exploration, we aim to contribute to the development of more efficient, scalable solutions for managing battery waste and promoting a sustainable energy future.

Submissions from all areas related to and promoting the second-life applications and recycling of Li-ion batteries are encouraged, including but not limited to the following topics:

• Battery management systems;
• Thermal management solutions;
• Battery aging and degradation;
• Retired battery characterization, testing, standards, and certification;
• Sustainable battery cell and pack design;
• Battery recycling and reuse strategies;
• Digital twin technologies for second-life applications;
• Optimization of battery performance and lifecycle;
• Circular economy and lifecycle assessment;
• Advanced manufacturing techniques;
• Safety considerations and environmental impacts of retired batteries;
• Economic and regulatory barriers to reusing retired batteries.

Dr. Prodip K. Das
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.