Advances in capacitive deionization for selective lithium recovery from brines: Mechanisms, strategies, and future perspectives

Yu, H; Phuntsho, S; Naidu, G; Askari, M; Shon, HK

Advances in capacitive deionization for selective lithium recovery from brines: Mechanisms, strategies, and future perspectives

Yu, H

Phuntsho, S

Naidu, G Askari, M Shon, HK

Permalink

Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Desalination, 2026, 629
Issue Date:: 2026-07-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (6.98 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Yu, H https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6509-5408
dc.contributor.author	Phuntsho, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-3916
dc.contributor.author	Naidu, G
dc.contributor.author	Askari, M
dc.contributor.author	Shon, HK
dc.date.accessioned	2026-06-09T01:50:42Z
dc.date.available	2026-06-09T01:50:42Z
dc.date.issued	2026-07-01
dc.identifier.citation	Desalination, 2026, 629
dc.identifier.issn	0011-9164
dc.identifier.issn	1873-4464
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195261
dc.description.abstract	The growing global demand for lithium, fueled by the expansion of electric vehicles and energy storage systems, calls for efficient and sustainable extraction technologies. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is emerging as a promising electrochemical method for lithium recovery from diverse aqueous sources, including low-grade brines, geothermal waters, and industrial effluents. By applying a low-voltage electric field, CDI captures lithium ions either through electrosorption onto porous electrodes or via intercalation into redox-active materials. Compared to conventional separation technologies, CDI offers distinct advantages such as low energy consumption, mild operating conditions, rapid adsorption kinetics, and scalable modular design. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in CDI-based lithium extraction with a focus on research methodology. Key research strategies are categorized into four domains: structural engineering of electrodes, surface and interface modification, advanced material integration, and machine learning and simulation. Applications across various source solutions are discussed, and standard performance metrics such as adsorption capacity, selectivity, energy consumption, and cycling stability are outlined. The review concludes by identifying critical challenges and proposing future research directions that emphasize multifunctional electrode design, scalable fabrication, and data-driven material discovery. This work offers comprehensive guidance for advancing CDI technologies toward practical and sustainable lithium recovery.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP230100238
dc.relation.ispartof	Desalination
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.desal.2026.120098
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	03 Chemical Sciences, 09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Chemical Engineering
dc.subject.classification	34 Chemical sciences
dc.subject.classification	40 Engineering
dc.title	Advances in capacitive deionization for selective lithium recovery from brines: Mechanisms, strategies, and future perspectives
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	629
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences
utslib.for	09 Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Chancellor's Research Fellows
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Climate Deep Sector Engagement Area
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-06-09T01:44:38Z
pubs.publication-status	Accepted
pubs.volume	629

Abstract:

The growing global demand for lithium, fueled by the expansion of electric vehicles and energy storage systems, calls for efficient and sustainable extraction technologies. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is emerging as a promising electrochemical method for lithium recovery from diverse aqueous sources, including low-grade brines, geothermal waters, and industrial effluents. By applying a low-voltage electric field, CDI captures lithium ions either through electrosorption onto porous electrodes or via intercalation into redox-active materials. Compared to conventional separation technologies, CDI offers distinct advantages such as low energy consumption, mild operating conditions, rapid adsorption kinetics, and scalable modular design. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in CDI-based lithium extraction with a focus on research methodology. Key research strategies are categorized into four domains: structural engineering of electrodes, surface and interface modification, advanced material integration, and machine learning and simulation. Applications across various source solutions are discussed, and standard performance metrics such as adsorption capacity, selectivity, energy consumption, and cycling stability are outlined. The review concludes by identifying critical challenges and proposing future research directions that emphasize multifunctional electrode design, scalable fabrication, and data-driven material discovery. This work offers comprehensive guidance for advancing CDI technologies toward practical and sustainable lithium recovery.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195261