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Vol. 15 (2023)

Engineering Multi-field-coupled Synergistic Ion Transport System Based on the Heterogeneous Nanofluidic Membrane for High-Efficient Lithium Extraction

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01106-5
Lin Fu
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Yuhao Hu
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Xiangbin Lin
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Qingchen Wang
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Linsen Yang
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Weiwen Xin
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Shengyang Zhou
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Yongchao Qian
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Xiang‑Yu Kong
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Lei Jiang
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
Liping Wen
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‑Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Liping Wen

wen@mail.ipc.ac.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 15 (2023), Article Number: 130

Abstract

The global carbon neutrality strategy brings a wave of rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries technique development and induces an ever-growing consumption and demand for lithium (Li). Among all the Li exploitation, extracting Li from spent LIBs would be a strategic and perspective approach, especially with the low energy consumption and eco-friendly membrane separation method. However, current membrane separation systems mainly focus on monotonous membrane design and structure optimization, and rarely further consider the coordination of inherent structure and applied external field, resulting in limited ion transport. Here, we propose a heterogeneous nanofluidic membrane as a platform for coupling multi-external fields (i.e., light-induced heat, electrical, and concentration gradient fields) to construct the multi-field-coupled synergistic ion transport system (MSITS) for Li-ion extraction from spent LIBs. The Li flux of the MSITS reaches 367.4 mmol m−2 h−1, even higher than the sum flux of those applied individual fields, reflecting synergistic enhancement for ion transport of the multi-field-coupled effect. Benefiting from the adaptation of membrane structure and multi-external fields, the proposed system exhibits ultrahigh selectivity with a Li+/Co2+ factor of 216,412, outperforming previous reports. MSITS based on nanofluidic membrane proves to be a promising ion transport strategy, as it could accelerate ion transmembrane transport and alleviate the ion concentration polarization effect. This work demonstrated a collaborative system equipped with an optimized membrane for high-efficient Li extraction, providing an expanded strategy to investigate the other membrane-based applications of their common similarities in core concepts.


Highlights:


1 The first construct of a multi-field-coupled synergistic ion transport system (MSITS) in Li+ extraction is proposed.
2 Effectively suppress the ion concentration polarization effect of the ion-enrichment zone at the membrane interface.
3 The MSITS equipped with heterogeneous membrane exhibited outstanding separation performance with Li+ flux of 367.4 mmol m−2 h−1 and Li+/Co2+ selectivity of 216,412, outperforming previous reports.

Keywords

Nanofluids Ion separation Lithium extraction Synergistic effect Spent lithium-ion battery
Fu, Lin, Yuhao Hu, Xiangbin Lin, Qingchen Wang, Linsen Yang, Weiwen Xin, Shengyang Zhou, Yongchao Qian, Xiang‑Yu Kong, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen. 2023. “Engineering Multi-Field-Coupled Synergistic Ion Transport System Based on the Heterogeneous Nanofluidic Membrane for High-Efficient Lithium Extraction”. Nano-Micro Letters 15 (May):130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01106-5.
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