With the rising demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), it is crucial to develop recycling methods that minimize environmental impacts and ensure resource sustainability. The focus of this short review is on the electrochemical techniques used in LIB recycling, particularly electrochemical leaching and electrodeposition. Our summary covers the latest research, highlighting the principles, progress, and challenges tied to these methods. By examining the current state of electrochemical recovery, this review intends to provide guidance for future advancements and enhance LIB recycling efficiency.

We investigated the early stages of electroless copper (Cu) deposition onto ruthenium (Ru) using a novel ex situ electrochemical technique involving underpotentially deposited lead (Pb_upd). The fractional surface coverage of Cu during electroless deposition on Ru was measured via the Pb_upd deposition charge. Recognizing that the onset potential for Pb_upd is surface-sensitive, the fraction of the exposed Ru substrate and that of the electroless Cu covered substrate could be quantitatively measured. Our investigation, while providing a convenient and easy-to-use surface analytical method, supports the two-dimensional electrochemical growth mode of Cu during early stages of electroless Cu nucleation on Ru.