Blockchain and NFTs: Revolutionizing critical material recycling from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a cornerstone of modern technology, where they serve as the power source for a wide range of applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. However, rapid production growth has introduced challenges regarding end-of-life management, particularly with waste disposal, resource recovery, and environmental sustainability. Inefficient recycling often leads to valuable materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel being discarded in landfills, which exacerbates resource scarcity and poses environmental and health risks. To address these issues, there is a critical need for more efficient, transparent, and accountable systems for the collection, recovery, and recycling of LIBs. In this paper,A blockchain and Non-Fungible Token (NFT)-based solution is proposed to enable circular recycling and material recovery. This system improves transparency, traceability, and accountability throughout the battery lifecycle. The smart contracts (SCs) source code is made publicly available on GitHub.