Study: Disposable vapes can be recharged hundreds of times

Research from University College London and the University of Oxford has revealed that although the lithium-ion batteries in disposable electronic cigarettes are discarded after a single use, they can continue to perform at high capacity for hundreds of cycles. The research findings, published in Joule, highlight the growing environmental threat from these vape pens, which are not designed to be recharged.

The researchers believed that the batteries used in disposable e-cigarettes were rechargeable, but were not aware of any previous studies that had assessed how long the lithium-ion batteries in these products are capable of lasting. Hamish Reid, first author of the study, said that the research shows that the lithium-ion batteries stores in single-use vapes are capable of being charged and discharged over 450 times. “This work highlights the huge waste of limited resources caused by disposable vapes,” Reid said.

The researchers harvested batteries from disposable e-cigarettes under controlled conditions, then assessed them using the same tools and techniques used to study batteries in electric vehicles and other devices. They examined the batteries under microscopes and used X-ray tomography to map their internal structure and understand the constituent materials. By repeatedly charging and discharging the batteries, they determined how well the batteries maintained their electrochemical performance over time, finding that they could be recharged hundreds of times in some cases.

Professor Paul Shearing, senior author of the paper, said the research findings revealed just how long these batteries could potentially cycle. “If you use a low charge and discharge rate, you can see that for over 700 cycles, you still have more than 90% capacity retention. That’s a pretty good battery, actually. And these are just being discarded. They’re being chucked on the side of the road. As a bare minimum, the public needs to be aware of the types of batteries going into these devices and the need to properly dispose of them. Manufacturers should provide the ecosystem for reuse and recycling of e-cigarette batteries, and also should be moving towards rechargeable devices as the default,” Shearing said.

The researchers are now studying new, more selective ways to recycle batteries that allow individual components to be recovered without cross-contamination, as well as more sustainable battery chemistries, including post-lithium-ion, lithium sulfur and sodium-ion batteries. In order to address challenges across the battery supply chain, the researchers have urged scientists to consider batteries’ life cycles when thinking about any of their applications.

“That permeates all the work we do, really, whether it’s a vape battery or whether it’s a battery going into an electric helicopter. It’s the same kind of thought process where we need to fully understand the life cycle of a battery device,” Shearing said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Дмитрий Коростылев