Challenges and strategic approaches to constructing the full life cycle value chain of layered cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries

Amid the escalating global environmental and energy crises, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a significant complement to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), owing to their high voltage platform, excellent safety, wide temperature range, and low cost. The choice of cathode materials plays a crucial role in influencing the efficiency and effectiveness of SIBs. Although layered cathode materials have shown promising prospects in specific capacity, voltage range, and environmental friendliness, they still face significant challenges due to factors like poor stability in air, interface degradation, and irreversible structural changes. Despite the low immediate economic benefits, the recycling of used SIBs has not been sufficiently addressed. As the adoption of SIBs grows, their recycling will present significant environmental and resource challenges in the future. This review starts with the synthesis of layered cathodes in SIBs and examines the failure mechanisms and improvement strategies during manufacturing and cycling, extending to the recovery of spent batteries. Through a comprehensive analysis, we aim to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for constructing the full life cycle value chain of new energy. The analysis in this paper includes innovations in materials and recycling technologies, extending to considerations of societal, ethical, and environmental aspects, especially how to balance corporate profits and social responsibility, and how recycling technologies can maximize resource utilization and environmental protection. Additionally, this review proposes a complete closed-loop system from production to recycling, emphasizing the sustainability of SIBs technology throughout its entire life cycle, offering a systematic framework and development direction for the future application of SIBs.