Glass fabrication was evaluated employing LiMn 2 O 4 as electrode-active material from Li+-ion batteries and either tellurium(IV) oxide or boric acid as vitrification agents. The reagents were combined in the appropriate proportions targeting (100 – x )TeO 2 - x LiMn 2 O 4 and (100 – x )B 2 O 3 - x LiMn 2 O 4 formulas with x = 20, 30, 40 mol% and melted in ambient atmosphere. The materials obtained were then studied through density, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The products with boric acid appeared X-ray amorphous for x = 20 and 30 mol% LiMn 2 O 4 , with a slight indication of crystallization for x = 40 mol%. On the other hand, the tellurite system was undoubtedly completely amorphous only for x = 20 mol% LiMn 2 O 4 , since a hint of crystallization was noticed for x = 30 mol% and clear indication of a glass-ceramic was evidenced for x = 40 mol%. In both systems, FT-IR indicated a tendency towards depolymerization at high LiMn 2 O 4 concentration. DSC showed that the tellurites had lower glass transition temperatures, yet both systems showed decreasing trend with increasing LiMn 2 O 4 content. An optical evaluation was carried out for the 80TeO 2 -20LiMn 2 O 4 and 80B 2 O 3 -20LiMn 2 O 4 glasses in closing for comparison with a 80P 2 O 5 -20LiMn 2 O 4 glass. Overall, boric acid appeared to be a more suitable cost-effective vitrification agent for LiMn 2 O 4 than TeO 2 . • Glasses made using LiMn 2 O 4 electrode-active material and TeO 2 or H 3 BO 3 as glass formers • Characterizations done by density, XRD (Mo and Cu X-ray sources), FT-IR, and DSC measurements • Optical evaluation performed for low LiMn 2 O 4 loading with a view to upcycling • Boric acid appeared more attractive for vitrification of lithium battery electrode
José A. Jiménez (Wed,) studied this question.