New MIT Technique Halves Lithium Costs with Near-Zero Waste

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

Most gadgets rely on lithium-ion batteries, and scientists have come up with a better way of getting at lithium.

New MIT Technique Halves Lithium Costs with Near-Zero Waste

Lithium has become an essential mineral worldwide because it’s a crucial component in rechargeable batteries powering electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and energy storage systems. With the rising demand for batteries, the need for lithium continues to grow. Although countries like the U.S. and Australia possess significant lithium resources, much of the refining still occurs in China. One reason is that extracting lithium from hard rock i…