Addressing challenges in lithium extraction
Lithium, a lightweight alkali metal, is a critical component in the batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
However, traditional lithium extraction methods often struggle with ion selectivity, particularly when separating lithium from similar ions like magnesium and sodium.
Current methods also rely heavily on environmentally damaging practices like evaporation ponds and chemical purification.
The Rice team’s innovation bypasses these challenges.
Unlike conventional nanoporous membranes that rely on hydrated pores, SSEs utilize an anhydrous “hopping” mechanism within a crystalline lattice to transport lithium ions.
“This means that lithium ions can migrate through the membrane while other competing ions, and even water, are effectively blocked,” explained Sohum Patel, the study’s first author.