Self-breaking EV battery material could make recycling fast, easy

MIT researchers have developed a novel “self-assembling” electrolyte material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that significantly simplifies recycling. Inspired by a Harry Potter scene where Dumbledore cleans a room with a flick of his wrist, the team designed a battery electrolyte that can quickly disassemble when exposed to a simple organic solvent. This allows the battery’s layers to separate naturally, enabling easier sorting and recycling of individual components. Unlike conventional batteries, which are difficult and costly to recycle due to complex and harsh chemical processes, this new approach embraces a “recycle-first” design philosophy, creating materials that prioritize recyclability from the outset. The electrolyte material is composed of aramid amphiphiles (AAs), molecules that self-assemble into durable nanoribbons mimicking the strong chemical structure of Kevlar, combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to conduct lithium ions. These nanoribbons form a solid-state electrolyte that is both tough and functional, facilitating lithium-ion transport between the battery’s cathode and