Engineering Li/Na selectivity in 12-Crown-4–functionalized polymer membranes

Journal Article · 07 September 2021 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2022197118 · OSTI ID:1819229

Warnock, Samuel J. ^[1]; Sujanani, Rahul  ^[2]; Zofchak, Everett S. ^[2]; Zhao, Shou  ^[3]; Dilenschneider, Theodore J. ^[2]; Hanson, Kalin G. ^[3]; Mukherjee, Sanjoy  ^[4]; Ganesan, Venkat ^[2]; Freeman, Benny D. ^[2]; Abu-Omar, Mahdi M.  ^[5]; Bates, Christopher M.  ^[6]

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1. Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,
2. McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712,
3. Department of Chemistry &, Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,
4. Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,
5. Department of Chemistry &, Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
6. Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,, Department of Chemistry &, Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,, Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Significance Lithium is a key ingredient in batteries, which are integral components of next-generation automobiles, airplanes, grid energy storage, and electronic devices. Unfortunately, lithium extraction from natural sources is laborious, slow, and costly, motivating the search for more efficient isolation techniques. While polymeric membranes could reduce the cost of lithium recovery, current membrane materials lack sufficient lithium-ion selectivity. To address this challenge, we introduce a class of polymeric membranes that incorporate ion binding sites, which significantly increases the transport selectivity of LiCl over NaCl. These studies provide guidelines and practical considerations for incorporating specific interactants into polymers that mediate selective ion transport.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0019272
• OSTI ID: 1819229
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 37 Vol. 118; ISSN 0027-8424
• Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English