Exploring Electrochemical Lithium Extraction: From System Architectures to Practical Challenges

Abstract In recent decades, the rapid development and widespread adoption of lithium‐ion batteries have significantly increased the demand for lithium resources. To ensure a sustainable supply of lithium, there is an urgent need to innovate methods that are economically efficient for extracting lithium from various sources, including lithium‐rich brine, seawater, and industrial wastewater. Currently, technologies employed for extracting lithium from liquid resources encompass direct precipitation, extraction techniques, membrane separation, adsorption processes, and electrochemical methods. Among these approaches, electrochemical technologies offer a faster and more controllable rate of lithium extraction compared to other methods, presenting promising application prospects. Recent advancements in the field of electrochemical lithium recovery are noteworthy. In this review, the mechanism and working systems of electrochemical lithium extraction are summarized from two aspects: electrosorption and electrodialysis. Effective strategies are systematically described for improving the lithium extraction capacity. Then an in‐depth exploration of prospective developments is provided, while also highlighting challenges in large‐scale electrochemical‐based lithium extraction. Overall, this review not only offers in‐depth insight into lithium extraction from brines with low Li ⁺ concentration, but also inspires the development and design of next‐generation electrochemical lithium extraction device with unprecedented properties.