Photovoltaic- driven dual- oxidation seawater electrolyzer for sustainable lithium recovery

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gu, Xiaosong; Feng, Xuezhen; Yang, Songhe; Wang, Ranhao; Zeng, Qiang; Shangguan, Yangzi; Liang, Jiaxin; Zhou, Huiling; Li, Zhiwei; Lin, Zhang; Zheng, Chunmiao; Xu, Zhenghe; Chen, Hong
• 署名单位: Southern University of Science & Technology; Central South University; Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo; Eastern Institute for Advanced Study; Southern University of Science & Technology
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-11812
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414741121
• 发表日期: 2024-10-18
• 关键词: ion batteries

摘要

The insatiable demand for lithium in portable energy storage necessitates a sustainable and low- carbon approach to its recovery. Conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods heavily involve hazardous chemicals and significant CO2 emissions. Herein, by integrating electrode oxidation with electrolyte oxidation, we establish a photovoltaic- driven dual- oxidation seawater electrolyzer system for low- carbon footprint and high lithium recovery. A 98.96% lithium leaching rate with 99.60% product purity was demonstrated for lithium recovery from spent LiFePO4 cathode materials. In- depth mechanism studies reveal that the electric field- driven electrode oxidation and in situ generated oxidative electrolyte synergetically contributes to lithium ions leaching via a structural framework elements oxidation and particle corrosion splitting synergy. This dual- oxidation mechanism facilitates rapid and efficient lithium extraction with broad universality, offering significant economic and environmental benefits. Our work showcases a promising strategy for integrating dual oxidation within a photovoltaic- driven seawater electrolyzer, paving the way for low- carbon lithium recovery from diverse solid wastes and minerals within a sustainable circular economy.