Photo-Fenton-Like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Recycled LiCoO₂ and LiMn₀.₃Co₀.₇O₂ Cathodes: A Comparative Study

This study highlights the effective use of recycled Li-ion battery cathode tapes, specifically LiCoO₂ and LiMn _0.3 Co _0.7 O₂ for methylene blue degradation via a photo-Fenton-like process. The LiMn _0.3 Co _0.7 O₂ cathode outperformed LiCoO₂ with a higher first-order rate constant (14.0 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ vs. 9.4 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹) and a smaller band gap (2.06 eV vs. 2.25 eV), enabling more efficient hydroxyl radical generation. ESI-MS analysis revealed degradation intermediates (m/z = 227, 114), confirming mineralization pathways. These findings underscore the dual benefits of using recycled cathodes to mitigate dye pollution and promote sustainable battery waste management, paving the way for scalable environmental applications.