Rice University's Breakthrough Membrane Efficiently Filters Lithium for Batteries
A team at Rice University has developed a groundbreaking membrane that efficiently filters lithium from brines. This innovation, published in Nature Communications, could revolutionize lithium production for rechargeable batteries. The teams membrane, developed by a research group led by chemist Michael Wong, selectively extracts lithium while using less energy than similar membranes. It consists of three independently optimizable layers, making it adaptable for other applications, such as recovering valuable minerals like cobalt and nickel. The teams login embedded nanoparticles of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) into the membrane to achieve this selectivity. They tested the membrane in an electrodialysis system and used computer simulations to understand its atomic-level workings. Remarkably, the membrane maintained its performance even after two weeks of continuous use, demonstrating its strength and durability. This scalable, industrially suitable membrane offers an alternative way of extracting lithium via electrodialysis, making the process more efficient and less energy-intensive. The team's future work may involve adapting the membrane design to target other valuable minerals, further expanding its potential applications.
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