Ascend Elements, a lithium-ion battery recycling and engineered materials company, announced a strategic investment of $50 million from SK ecoplant, the environmental unit of Korean conglomerate SK Inc. The investment will accelerate the commercialization of the company’s ‘Hydro-to-Cathode’ direct precursor synthesis process technology, which transforms recycled lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap into high-performance, customized EV battery cathode precursor and cathode active materials.