Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with the University of Chicago, has developed a novel membrane technology designed to efficiently extract lithium from water sources. This advancement aims to address the growing global demand for lithium, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries and various electronic devices.
The innovative membrane is constructed from ultrathin layers of vermiculite, a naturally abundant clay material. These layers are engineered to selectively filter lithium ions from water, offering a potential low-cost and sustainable alternative to traditional lithium extraction methods, which often rely on hard-rock mining and salt lake evaporation processes.
By leveraging the unique properties of vermiculite, the membrane effectively separates lithium ions from other cations based on size and charge, enhancing the efficiency of the extraction process. This approach not only promises to increase the availability of lithium but also reduces the environmental impact associated with conventional mining techniques.
Researchers believe that this breakthrough could have broader applications, including the recovery of other essential materials from water sources and the removal of harmful contaminants from water supplies. The development of such technologies is crucial for ensuring a sustainable and secure supply of critical materials necessary for advancing clean energy technologies.
This research was funded by the Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS) Energy Frontier Research Center, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials.