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2026 Vol.35, Issue 4
Comparative Review of Acid Leaching Kinetics in Layered Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes

층상 구조 이차전지 양극재의 산 침출 반응 속도론 비교 고찰

Dae-Weon Kim1*
,
Hee-Seon Kim1
,
Hee-Lack Choi2
김 대원1*
,
김 희선1
,
최 희락2
1Materials and Components Research Division, Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE), Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea
2Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea
1고등기술연구원 소재부품연구본부
2부경대학교 재료공학과
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2026. pp. 3-29
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Abstract

This review comparatively analyzes the acid-leaching kinetics of layered lithium-ion battery cathodes, focusing on LiCoO2 (LCO) and LiNixCoyMnzO2 (NCM). Relevant studies are systematically examined with an emphasis on the application of the shrinking core model, Avrami equation, mixed-control models, activation energy, and rate-determining steps. LCO, as a single transition-metal system, generally exhibits relatively uniform bonding environments and tends to follow surface chemical reaction control; however, the presence of reductants significantly affects the cobalt dissolution barrier and behavior of the product layers. In contrast, NCM shows incongruent dissolution behavior, exhibiting the preferential leaching of lithium before the delayed dissolution of the transition metals, viz., Ni, Co, and Mn. Owing to the compositional complexity, intermediate-phase evolution, and residue-layer formation, the controlling mechanism in NCM frequently shifts between chemical reaction control, diffusion control, and mixed control, depending on the leaching conditions. A comparative interpretation of the activation energies and element specific dissolution behavior was identified as the key basis for distinguishing the intrinsic kinetic differences between the leaching of LCO and NCM. Therefore, the design of hydrometallurgical leaching processes for layered cathodes should consider not only the final recovery efficiency but also the structure–composition–kinetics relationship and transitions in the rate-determining steps.

Keywords
Layered cathodes
LiCoO2
NCM
Reaction kinetics
Activation energy
Rate-determining step

본 논문은 층상 구조 리튬이온전지 양극재인 LiCoO2(LCO)와 LiNixCoyMnzO2(NCM)의 산 침출 반응을 반응 속도론의 관점에서 비교 고찰하였다. 관련 문헌을 체계적으로 검토하여 수축핵 모델(SCM), 아브라미 모델, 혼합 지배 모델의 적용 사례와 활성화 에너지, 속도 결정 단계를 분석하였다. LCO는 단일 전이금속계로서 비교적 균일한 결합 환경을 가지므로 표면 화학 반응 지배가 우세하게 나타나는 경향을 보였으며, 환원제 첨가 여부에 따라 코발트 용출의 활성화 에너지 장벽이 감소하고, 표면 생성물층에 의한 확산 저항 거동이 유의미하게 변화함을 확인하였다. 반면 NCM은 리튬이 선행 용출되고 전이금속이 후속 용출되는 불일치 용출 거동(Incongruent dissolution)을 보였다. 또한, 복합적인 조성과 침출 중 발생하는 표면 잔사층으로 인해 침출 조건에 따라 속도 결정 단계가 화학 반응 지배에서 확산 또는 혼합 지배로 전이되는 현상을 나타냈다. 특히 활성화 에너지와 금속별 용출 거동의 분리 해석은 LCO와 NCM의 본질적 차이를 이해하는 핵심 지표로 확인되었다. 따라서 층상 양극재 침출 공정은 최종 침출효율뿐 아니라 구조-조성-속도 상관관계와 속도 결정 단계 변화를 함께 고려하여 설계되어야 한다.

키워드
층상 양극재
LiCoO2
NCM
반응 속도론
활성화 에너지
속도 결정 단계
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
  • Journal Title :Resources Recycling
  • Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
  • Volume : 35
  • No :4
  • Pages :3-29
  • Received Date : 2026-06-10
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-13
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2026.35.4.3
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