Costa Renata
Chemistry Research Centre of the University of Porto/Institute of Molecular Sciences (CIQUP-IMS), Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
Materials (Basel). 2025 Sep 15;18(18):4321. doi: 10.3390/ma18184321.
As the demand for more efficient energy storage solutions grows, emerging battery chemistries are being developed to complement or potentially replace conventional lithium-ion technologies. This review explores the circular economy potential of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and aluminum (Al) battery systems as alternative post-lithium configurations. Through a comparative literature analysis, it identifies key barriers related to material complexity, recovery efficiency, and regulatory gaps, while highlighting opportunities for design improvements and policy alignment to enhance sustainability across battery life cycles. However, end-of-life (EoL) material recovery remains constrained by complex chemistries, low technology readiness levels, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Embedding materials/battery design principles, transparent life cycle assessment (LCA) data (e.g., publishing LCAs in open repositories using a standard functional unit), and harmonized policy early could close material loops and transform the rising post-lithium battery stream into a circular-economy resource rather than a waste burden.
随着对更高效储能解决方案的需求不断增长，正在开发新兴的电池化学体系以补充或潜在替代传统锂离子技术。本综述探讨了钠（Na）、镁（Mg）、锌（Zn）和铝（Al）电池系统作为锂后替代配置的循环经济潜力。通过比较文献分析，确定了与材料复杂性、回收效率和监管差距相关的关键障碍，同时强调了设计改进和政策调整的机会，以提高电池全生命周期的可持续性。然而，报废（EoL）材料回收仍受到复杂化学性质、低技术就绪水平和分散监管框架的限制。尽早纳入材料/电池设计原则、透明的生命周期评估（LCA）数据（例如，使用标准功能单元在开放存储库中发布LCA）以及统一政策，可以封闭材料循环，将不断增加的锂后电池流转变为循环经济资源，而不是废物负担。
