MIT scientists make lithium-ion breakthrough that could solve a global battery issue — new low-cost extraction method was inspired by a bathroom renovation project and could reduce reliance on China
- A new lithium extraction process has been developed at MIT
- It's cheaper and more eco-friendly than current techniques
- The innovation could shift the extraction industry away from China
Lithium-ion batteries power most of our tech devices, from the best phones to the best drones, so the element lithium is in demand. Now, scientists working at MIT have come up with a new way to extract it from rock, which is cheaper and more eco-friendly than the techniques currently used.
The new process was actually inspired by a bathroom renovation carried out by one of the research team, Materials Science and Engineering professor Yet-Ming Chiang. His DIY project led him to a glass etching cream that could 'eat away' at the glass surface and turn clear glass blocks translucent.
Spodumene, the most abundant lithium-bearing mineral, is mostly made up of silica, just like glass. With the glass etching cream in...
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