The XRD pattern of the end-of-life (EOL) cathode shows that it contains a mixture of LMO (Fd3 ̅ m space group) and a layered oxide (LO; R3 ̅ m space group) Figure ). Previously the LO phase has been reported to be a Co and Al doped LiNiO2 (NCA). The EOL cathode also contains a graphitic phase, which could either be due to migration from the anode or due to conductive carbon additives. Rietveld refinement analysis shows that LMO accounts for most of the cathode (61.9 wt%) while the LO accounts for considerably less (18.3 wt%) (Table and Figure ). The wt% is only applicable to crystalline phases and does not include the amorphous carbon/binder added during coating. Both the LMO and LO phases have lattice parameters similar to those reported in the literature. The wt% of the graphitic phase is high (19.8 wt%) suggesting that it maybe be due to migration from the anode or due to contamination during disassembly. SEM images of the cathode show larger particles consisting of agglomerations of smaller particles, this may be due to larger particles cracking during cycling (Figure ). EDX images show that high levels of Mn are present over the majority of surface apart from some regions where there is lower Mn and higher Ni levels. The regions of high Mn content correspond to areas that are rich in the LMO phase while regions of high Ni content correspond to areas that are rich in the LO phase. The LO phase remains intact throughout the leaching duration showing that it is not leached into solution. The XRD patterns also show a shoulder on the peak at 21°. While extensive cycling of LO can lead to a transformation from a layered to a rocksalt structure, this extra peak does not match to a rocksalt phase. Instead this shoulder can be attributed to the presence of an additional LO phase being present. This additional LO phase has cell parameters, a = 2.8829(1) Å and c = 13.986(3) Å. The c value is significantly lower than the original LO phase suggesting that it may be a Li-deficient LO.