ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Recycling and modification of lithium-ion battery anode active materials through the transformation of graphite into graphene aerogel for the development of coin cell electrodes

N. Herdianto, Abdul Haris Watoni, Thamrin Azis, Muhammad Zakir Muzakkar, Alimin Alimin, and Muhammad Nurdin

Study Program of Chemistry, Post Graduate School, Universitas Halu Oleo, Kendari, Indonesia

E-mail: ahwatoni@uho.ac.d

Received: 29 September 2025  Accepted: 31 December 2025

Abstract:

The rapid growth of lithium-ion battery (LIB) usage has increased the demand for sustainable recycling strategies, particularly for graphite anodes that contribute significantly to environmental impact. In this study, used graphite anodes were regenerated and transformed into graphene aerogel (GA) through a series of purification, calcination, and hydrothermal processes. Structural characterization using XRD confirmed the shift of the (002) diffraction peak, indicating turbostratic reorganization of graphite layers after furnace treatment and exfoliation into graphene sheets in the aerogel form. SEM-EDS analysis revealed a more homogeneous morphology, reduced particle agglomeration, and the development of a porous three-dimensional aerogel structure with high surface area, supported by the presence of functional oxygen groups. Electrochemical evaluation via cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that furnace-treated graphite (FT-G) achieved outstanding specific capacitance values up to 1301 F·g⁻¹ (≈217 mAh·g⁻¹), significantly surpassing both untreated graphite/Pre-treated graphite (PT-G) and graphene aerogel (GA). These findings highlight the potential of recycling spent graphite anodes into advanced carbon-based materials, offering not only improved electrochemical performance but also contributing to the circular economy and sustainable energy storage solutions.

Keywords: Graphite recycling; Graphene aerogel; Lithium-ion batteries; Anode; Electrochemical performance

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04646-3

Chemical Papers 80 (4) 3735–3747 (2026)