| Abstract Scope |
The growing demand for electric vehicles and consumer electronics has led to an increase in lithium-ion battery (LIB) usage and a greater need for efficient recycling technologies to recover critical metals such as nickel and cobalt. One challenge is separating these two metals, which share extremely similar properties. This study explores a selective electrodeposition approach that uses pH-dependent chelating agents to control aqueous metal speciation. By adjusting pH and ligand concentration, the coordination environment can be tuned, enabling preferential deposition of one metal over the other. We elucidated the underlying mechanisms by characterizing reaction products using ICP-OES, SEM-EDS, UV-Vis, and XRD. The results reveal that complexation behavior strongly influences redox activity, providing insight into how ligand-metal interactions can be leveraged to enhance selectivity. Overall, this work offers a simpler, more efficient route to recover nickel and cobalt from LIB leachates, improving the overall sustainability and economics of battery recycling. |