A Texas A&M University research team is exploring whether microscopic, fish-like robots could recover lithium from seawater, potentially creating another supply option for battery and energy-storage manufacturers.
The project has received a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy. It is one of 19 federally funded initiatives focused on expanding domestic access to critical minerals and reducing supply-chain exposure.
Rather than relying on fixed membranes or large stationary treatment systems, the proposed technology would use mobile micro- and nanoparticles designed to move through seawater and interact directly with lithium ions.
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