The road to a second life for batteries: Experts discussed the practice of recycling Li-batteries

One of the key research areas of the Nanotechnology Centre (CNT) at CEET, VSB – TUO, is the recycling of lithium batteries, in which the team is actively involved as part of the national research project MATUR.

This topic took center stage at the expert seminar "Recycling of Lithium Batteries in Practice", held on 12 June 2025 at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. The event attracted dozens of specialists from academia, industry, and environmental organizations, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, presentation of current research findings, and discussions on the pressing challenges surrounding the recycling of critical raw materials.

The seminar was opened by Stanislav Cingroš from APPSEN, founder of the Recycling Cluster, with an introductory lecture addressing the practical challenges related to the end-of-life phase of batteries and appropriate handling strategies.

Representing CNT, Gabriela Kratošová presented the centre's research activities in the field of battery recycling, highlighting scientific outcomes achieved within the MATUR project, which includes collaboration with colleagues from UJEP, notably Tadeáš Riley Wangle. Her presentation emphasized the crucial role of effective recycling—not only for protecting the environment but also for enabling the recovery and reuse of critical raw materials, which are essential for sustainable energy systems and technological progress.

The seminar was held under the auspices of AKU-BAT CZ and the Association of the Chemical Industry of the Czech Republic, reaffirming that cross-sectoral collaboration is key to addressing future challenges related to battery lifecycle management.