Affiliation:
1. Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao 266101 China
2. Shandong Energy Institute Qingdao 266101 China
3. Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao 266101 China
4. Qingdao University Qingdao 266071 China
5. Tang Bo's institution Laoshan Laboratory Qingdao China
Abstract
AbstractMembranes with precise Li+/Na+ and Li+/K+ separations are imperative for lithium extraction from brine to address the lithium supply shortage. However, achieving this goal remains a daunting challenge due to the similar valence, chemical properties, and subtle atomic‐scale distinctions among these monovalent cations. Herein, inspired by the strict size‐sieving effect of biological ion channels, a membrane is presented based on nonporous crystalline materials featuring structurally rigid, dimensionally confined, and long‐range ordered ion channels that exclusively permeate naked Li+ but block Na+ and K+. This naked‐Li+‐sieving behavior not only enables unprecedented Li+/Na+ and Li+/K+ selectivities up to 2707.4 and 5109.8, respectively, even surpassing the state‐of‐the‐art membranes by at least two orders of magnitude, but also demonstrates impressive Li+/Mg2+ and Li+/Ca2+ separation capabilities. Moreover, this bioinspired membrane has to be utilized for creating a one‐step lithium extraction strategy from natural brines rich in Na+, K+, and Mg2+ without utilizing chemicals or creating solid waste, and it simultaneously produces hydrogen. This research has proposed a new type of ion‐sieving membrane and also provides an envisioning of the design paradigm and development of advanced membranes, ion separation, and lithium extraction.
Funder
National Basic Research Program of China