Electrochemical Lithium Recovery: Investigating Electrode Behavior and Enhancing System Durability

The demand for lithium has been rapidly increasing due to the widespread use of secondary batteries. Currently, lithium production primarily relies on the time-consuming process of evaporation and precipitation from brine lakes. This method is limited to specific water sources with low ion concentrations, and environmental concerns have emerged surrounding its use.<br/><br/>However, the development of electrochemical lithium recovery systems, inspired by the principles of lithium-ion batteries, holds promise for alleviating these concerns. By utilizing cathodes, such as LiMn₂O₄ and LiFePO₄, which possess suitable channel sizes for selective Li⁺ insertion, these systems can selectively recover lithium from various source waters with a wide range of Li⁺ concentrations. However, a lack of understanding regarding the physicochemical behaviors of the Li⁺-selective electrode under realistic operational conditions has been a hindrance. Furthermore, the stability and cost of the counter electrodes in this system present significant obstacles that impede its practical implementation.<br/><br/>This talk aims to delve into the physicochemical behavior of the Li+-selective electrode during the electrochemical lithium recovery process at various Li+ concentrations in the source water and the operation rate. Through the characterization of the electrodes using X-ray techniques, it was suggested that increasing the density research aims to tackle the increasing demand for lithium by advancing electrochemical lithium recovery systems. It will focus on investigating the behaviors of the Li⁺-selective electrode during realistic operational conditions and propose strategies for enhancing the efficiency and durability of electrode designs.<br/><br/>In addition, this talk will explore the Faradaic and non-Faradaic capture of anions by modifying the silver-based electrode and utilizing a high-surface-area carbonaceous material, respectively. It was found that the system showed high stability by using those electrode materials. Moreover, a system that enables simultaneous lithium recovery and decomposition of organic pollutants will be introduced. This extends the applicability of the electrode to industrial wastewater, highlighting the versatility of the electrochemical system.