Abstract:
Membranes 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.
摘要:
具有精确Li+/Na+和Li+/K+分离的膜对于从盐水中提取锂以解决锂供应短缺是必要的。然而,由于相似的效价,实现这一目标仍然是一个艰巨的挑战,化学性质,以及这些一价阳离子之间微妙的原子尺度差异。在这里,受到生物离子通道严格的尺寸筛分效应的启发,提出了一种基于无孔结晶材料的膜,具有结构刚性,尺寸限制,和长距离有序离子通道,仅渗透裸露的Li,但阻断Na和K。这种裸-Li+筛分行为不仅能够实现前所未有的Li+/Na+和Li+/K+选择性分别高达2707.4和5109.8,甚至超过最先进的膜至少两个数量级,但也展示了令人印象深刻的Li+/Mg2+和Li+/Ca2+分离能力。此外,这种生物膜必须用于从富含Na+的天然盐水中创建一步锂提取策略,K+,和Mg2+,而不利用化学品或产生固体废物,它同时产生氢气。这项研究提出了一种新型的离子筛分膜,也提供了先进膜的设计范式和发展的设想,离子分离,和锂提取。