Should we recycle the graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries? The untold story of graphite with the importance of recycling

Demand for graphite in the forthcoming years to develop Li-ion batteries (LIBs) with the goal of driving electric vehicles (EV) and its requirement in multifarious energy storage applications as an electrode. The emerging sector of LIB-based EVs, along with portable electronics, produces an inevitable volume of batteries in the e-waste stream. The main reason for the lower percentage of recycling (at present, <5%) is due to the recovery of economically rich metals like Li, Ni, and Co. However, complete recycling technologies, including the strategic material graphite, which is available in a massive amount of spent LIBs, are urgently needed to be updated to ensure the reuse of all components. This approach lifts the recycling process to develop an economic one besides the geostrategic and environmental policy aspects. Here, we summarize the importance of graphite and its demand and specify the reasons to recycle the graphite from spent LIBs along with its development as an anode in detail. Additionally, the approach of the current recycling process of graphite in lab-scale and industries for various applications, including energy storage, are discussed with the highlights of future progress.