Brine Produces Lithium with Solar Power can Enhance Sustainability

By Priya Nagrale , 12 March, 2025

In a remarkable and pioneering feat, researchers created a solar apparatus that can harvest and capture lithium from brine, a type of saltwater rich in lithium. This new technology could change how lithium is produced and mined, providing a more dependable, efficient, and cheaper way as the electric car and renewable energy storage markets are increasingly hungry for lithium. Lithium is a critical element in lithium-ion batteries and has proven to be an essential commodity. However, conventional lithium extraction methods often face pollution, cost, or land acquisition challenges. The traditional approach is the evaporation of brine in open ponds, which takes a lot of surface area, water, and chemicals.

This innovative device, developed by Nanjing University and the University of California, Berkeley, utilizes sunlight to recover lithium from brine water. The extraction process is accomplished using a new technique called Solar Transpiration-Powered Lithium Extraction and Storage System (STLES), which utilizes solar-powered TE systems to enhance the lithium extraction process. This is the first device ever created by scholars from Nanjing University and the University of California at Berkeley, which uses sunlight boots and removes lithium from brines. This innovation refers to the Solar Transpiration-Powered Lithium Extraction and Storage/Utilization/Disposal (STLES) which employs the process of solar energy to extract lithium.

Lithium demand is high due to its use in batteries. Unfortunately, the classical sources of lithium, hard rock ores, will decrease shortly. Because of that, scientists have been searching for other resources, such as brine from water rich in salts, which is expected in the oceans. There are several benefits of such batteries due to rising. Prior research has suggested otherwise that sufficient amounts are available to countries, whatever the condition. Projected involvement costs are less than 40% of the standard extraction costs, which makes it better. The technique also decreases land occupancy, water, chemical exchanger agents and pollution. The apparatus is capable of working continuously and thus guarantees more lithium.

Brine Produces Lithium with Solar Power can Enhance Sustainability