Assistant Professor Chong Liu (right) and her team use specialized electrode materials and membranes to pull lithium ions from salt brines without the need for harsh chemicals. Credit: John Zich
As more drivers adopt plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, the demand for lithium-ion batteries will continue to explode over the next decade. But processes for extracting lithium can be time-consuming and chemical-intensive, and traditional sources—including brine and hard rock—could ultimately be depleted.
Scientists and engineers are now looking to unconventional water sources, including oil- and gas-produced water, geothermal brines, and rejected brines from seawater desalination. But how much …
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