The breakdown of solid-state batteries (SSBS) into physically separated cathode and solid electrolyte particles is still dense, as is the remanufacturing of the cathode and separator from ** materials. 
Here,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Brett AHelms teamSupramolecular organoionic (ORion) electrolytes are designed that are viscoelastic solids at battery operating temperatures (-40° to 45°C) but viscoelastic liquids above 100°C, which makes it possible to manufacture high-quality SSBs and ** their cathodes at the end of their life. Specifically, the SSB of the ORION electrolyte was run for hundreds of cycles at 45°C with a lithium metal anode and an LFP or NMC cathode with a capacity decay of less than 20%. In addition, a low-temperature solvent process was used to separate the cathode from the electrolyte and it was demonstrated that the reconstituted cell regained 90% of its initial capacity and maintained it for 100 cycles at 84% capacity retention. 
Figure 1MD simulation of an Orion conductorTo prove li|orion|The direct cathode ** potential of the LFP, the authors cycled at a current density of 40 A cm2 until the capacity retention rate was 90% of the initial capacity. The battery is then dismantled and the LFP cathode is immersed in DME to dissolve the supramolecular solid ionic conductor. Reassemble this positive electrode into a li|orion|LFP battery and reversibly cycle it again at 40 Acm2. The initial capacity of the ORION battery is about 90% compared to the capacity before the direct cathode. Notably, compared to the capacity of the reconstructed second cycle of the battery (assuming the first cycle is a formation cycle), the LFP cathode of * exhibited 84% capacity retention after 100 cycles. ** The previous volume decay rate is -0 per cycle14%, while the capacity decay rate after ** is -019%。As a result, the direct cathode** achieves long-cycle performance similar to the attenuation rate, capacity retention, and basic coulombic efficiency of the original LFP cathode. 
Figure 2Battery performance and closed-loop cathode**closed-loop cathode recycling in solid-state batteries enabled by supramolecular electrolytes,science advances2023 doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9020