The rising demand for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) highlights the importance of developing electrode fabrication methods that ensure high performance, cost efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Here, wet (slurry‐based) and dry (solvent‐free) electrode fabrication methods are compared with a focus on both anodes and cathodes. Despite its integration within an established industrial system, the wet method exhibits significant limitations stemming from the use of volatile solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), the high energy demand of the drying stage, and the complexity of scaling up thick electrode manufacturing. On the other hand, dry electrode fabrication eliminates the need for solvents, reduces energy use, simplifies production workflows, and improves mechanical integrity. The latter helps in the development of high‐loading electrodes for next‐generation high‐energy density storage systems. However, dry processing introduces new technical challenges that must first be addressed, including binder activation, uniform material dispersion, the need for specialized hardware, and the development of customized equipment. By focusing on the underlying mechanisms, advantages, and practical limitations, this review aims to support the development of optimized electrode fabrication strategies that facilitate the widespread adoption of sustainable battery technologies.

With the rapid and exponential expansion of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) market, a new regulatory framework has been introduced, centered on the implementation of a Battery Passport (BP) to enhance transparency, traceability, and sustainability across the battery value chain. This review aims to provide the context in which the BP is being implemented by discussing the reliance of LIBs on critical raw materials (CRMs), as well as the related economic and regulatory aspects of the BP system. Furthermore, it examines ongoing BP initiatives and pilot projects and discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with this tool, highlighting its central role in enabling a circular LIB economy in Europe. A critical analysis from a research-oriented perspective is also provided.

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) represent the dominant energy storage technology, and as their demand continues to rise, the efficient recycling and recovery of critical elements from their cathodes become increasingly important. Direct recovery of active electrode materials from spent LIBs or electrode manufacturing scraps offers an effective strategy to obtain secondary materials that are ready for reuse in electrode reconstruction and reintegration into the LIB supply chain. In direct recycling processes, active materials must first be detached from their current collectors. This separation is typically achieved either through thermal decomposition of the binder, that is typically a per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) like polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), or by dissolving the binder in dipolar aprotic solvents, which are unsuitable for large‐scale applications due to their toxicity. This study investigates the direct recovery of both active materials and the PVDF polymeric binder from real LiCoO ₂ cathode production scraps. Separation from aluminum and current collector was accomplished using the green solvent triethyl phosphate, while process parameters such as dissolution time, temperature, and solid‐to‐liquid ratio were systematically optimized. The recovered active material and binder were subsequently characterized using multiple analytical techniques and reused for electrode remanufacturing, confirming the effectiveness of this environmentally friendly and readily scalable process.

Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs), for their high energy density, are considered key drivers in the transition of our society toward a sustainable energy future. In parallel with the exponential growth of the LIB market, a new regulatory framework that involves the implementation of a Battery Passport (BP) has been launched. This review aims to provide the context in which the BP is being implemented by discussing the reliance of LIBs on critical raw materials, as well as the related economic and regulatory aspects of the BP system. The BP is presented as a strategic tool for data tracking and transparency and for promoting sustainability across the LIB supply chain. We present ongoing BP initiatives and pilot projects and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with this tool, which plays an important role in enabling a circular LIB economy in Europe.