Recovery and regeneration of anode graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries through deep eutectic solvent treatment: Structural characteristics, electrochemical performance and regeneration mechanism

•DES was firstly employed to recycle and regenerate waste graphite from spent LIBs.•The impurities in spent graphite were removed efficiently by DES leaching.•DRG exhibited a rather high specific capacity of 449.4 mAh/g for 1st cycle at 0.1C.•The regeneration mechanism of graphite during the DES leaching process was revealed.•The proposed DES treatment had significant economic and environmental benefits.