Environment friendly recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries is pivotal for addressing the looming scarcity of important metals and the environmental burden attributable to the large inflow of battery waste. Nevertheless, typical pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes are sometimes constrained by their reliance on inert atmospheres and sluggish leaching kinetics. Herein, we suggest a Laser-induced Carbothermal Discount (LCTR) technique for the low-carbon restoration of spent cathodes and reveal a synergistic mechanism that {couples} micro-morphological fragmentation with lattice defect engineering. Laser-induced transient thermal shock triggers the stress-driven pulverization of secondary particles, considerably growing the particular floor space, whereas concurrently decreasing high-valence transition metals and producing oxygen vacancies. This twin modification allows speedy dissolution kinetics (15 min) in gentle acid (0.5 M H₂SO₄), attaining a lithium restoration charge of 99.72% and >90% for transition metals. Moreover, the method reveals broad universality throughout numerous cathode chemistries (together with NCM sequence, LiCoO₂, and LiMn₂O₄) and genuine spent electrodes. This examine not solely elucidates the microscopic mechanisms of laser-matter interplay but additionally presents a high-throughput, economically viable paradigm for sustainable city mining.
