Solar transpiration–powered lithium extraction and storage
Yan Song, Shiqi Fang, Ning Xu, Monong Wang, Shuying Chen, Jun Chen, Baoxia Mi, Jia Zhu
Abstract
Lithium mining is energy intensive and environmentally costly. This is because lithium ions are typically present in brines as a minor component mixed with physiochemically similar cations that are difficult to separate. Inspired by nature's ability to selectively extract species in transpiration, we report a solar transpiration-powered lithium extraction and storage (STLES) device that can extract and store lithium from brines using natural sunlight. Specifically, the device uses a hierarchically structured solar transpirational evaporator to create a pressure gradient, which allows for the extraction of lithium from brines through a membrane and its storage in a vascular storage layer. Long-term experiments, various membrane tests, and different size assessments demonstrate the stability, compatibility, and scalability of STLES. This solar-powered mining technology provides an alternative developing pathway toward the sustainable extraction of critical resources.