Scientists develop easily recyclable lithium-ion battery electrolyte

Scientists at the Institute of Science Tokyo have developed a novel quasi-solid electrolyte called 3D-SLISE (3D-Slime Interface Quasi-Solid Electrolyte) that promises to enhance lithium-ion batteries by improving safety, manufacturing efficiency, and recyclability. Unlike conventional electrolytes that rely on flammable organic solvents and require energy-intensive production environments, 3D-SLISE uses a borate–water matrix combined with lithium tetraborate, lithium salt, and carboxymethyl cellulose to create a slime-like interface enabling three-dimensional lithium-ion conduction. This innovation allows batteries to charge or discharge in just 20 minutes, maintain performance over 400 cycles at room temperature, and be produced without costly environmental controls, thereby reducing both production costs and carbon footprint. A key advantage of 3D-SLISE is its water-based composition, which eliminates the need for toxic binders and solvents, enabling direct recycling by simply soaking electrodes in water. This process allows recovery of valuable materials such as