Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Lithium Extraction”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Fundamental Understanding of “Fresh” Lithium Nucleation and Growth in Sulfide-Based Anode-Free Solid-State Batteries: Effects of Substrate, Current Density, and Li + Supply

Understanding the electrochemical extraction and deposition of lithium (Li) from cathode is crucial for advancing anode-free solid-state batteries (AFSSBs). Herein, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and electrochemical studies are employed to investigate how current collector surface properties, current densities, and cathode loadings influence the morphology of fresh electrochemically deposited Li and the electrochemical performance in sulfide-based AFSSBs. Cryo-TEM reveals that Cu current collectors induce irregular, dendritic Li deposits due to their lithiophobic nature and reactivity with Li 5.4 PS 4.4 Cl 1.6 (LPSC), while Ni and Au facilitate more uniform, planar-like Li growth. The morphology of the deposited Li also depends on current density: higher rates produce smaller, porous particles versus larger, denser deposits at lower rates. Importantly, for the first time, we discovered that low cathode loadings lead to poor cycling stability due to insufficient Li + supply for complete anode coverage, contrary to conventional solid-state batteries with preloaded Li metal anodes. This finding establishes a design principle where adequate cathode Li + reservoirs are essential for anode interface stability in AFSSBs. Overall, this work elucidates the interplayed effect of current collectors, current densities, and cathode loadings on Li morphology and cycle stability, offering fundamental insights into cathode-derived Li behavior and practical guidelines for optimizing AFSSBs performance through nucleation control and interface engineering.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Concavity-based local erosion and sphere-size-based local dilation applied to lithium-ion battery electrode microstructures for particle identification

Performance metrics of lithium-ion batteries can be extracted from the analysis of electrode microstructures nanoscale imaging. The characterization workflow can involve a challenging particle identification, or instance segmentation, step. In this work, we propose a new identification method based on an original transformation: a sphere-size-based local dilation followed by a concavity-based local erosion, that is local morphology closing. The new transformation is much more efficient than the global morphology closing, with correct identification achieved with only 1.7 % dilation volume and 2.6 % erosion volume on a test geometry, compared to 39.2 % and more than 50 %, respectively, with its global counterpart. The new method has been then benchmarked versus other identification algorithms (watershed and pseudo coulomb repulsive field) on a real electrode microstructure with equal or better segmentation achieved.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Overview of the Magnetic Resonance Capabilities at INL

The aim of this presentation is to give a broad overview of the magnetic resonance capabilities at Idaho National Laboratory and how the technique is implemented within the different directorates at the lab. Historically, the high-field NMR instrumentation has been used by our Energy & Environment Science and Technology (EES&T) directorate primarily as a characterization tool for synthetic chemistry work, but we have been actively trying to expand the use of the instrumentation into our Nuclear Science and Technology (NS&T) and National and Homeland Security (NHS) directorates. The expanded scope of work has ranged from solid-state characterization of biomass, analysis of electrolyte materials from lithium ion batteries, quantification of extracted critical materials, and measurement of metal-ligand complexes using ligands proposed for use in the nuclear fuel cycle.

37 - INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL C↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deuterium Extraction from Helium with a Vanadium Vacuum Permeator: Commissioning of the Tritium Extraction eXperiment (TEX)

Here, the Tritium Extraction eXperiment (TEX) is a forced-convection lead-lithium (PbLi) loop in the Safety and Tritium Applied Research (STAR) facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) with the purpose of providing validation data for the vacuum permeator tritium extraction concept. A vanadium tube of 1000 mm length, 12.7 mm outside diameter, and 0.50 mm wall thickness is installed in the test section of TEX. The installed vanadium tube is characterized to quantify impurity concentrations, surface chemistry, and microstructure to elucidate permeation phenomena observed in experimentation. Herein, the permeation properties of the vanadium tube are characterized by measuring deuterium permeation at 300 °C, 325 °C, and 350 °C at 100 kPa, 125 kPa, and 150 kPa total pressures with 5000 ppm deuterium in helium gas mixture in a once-through flow configuration. The hydrogen isotope permeation through the vanadium tube in the test section is measured with quadrupole mass spectrometers and the hydrogen isotope concentration in the feed and retentate gas stream is measured with gas chromatography. The transient permeation results are modeled with MELCOR-TMAP, a thermal-hydraulic tritium transport code, and compared well with literature data.

70 - PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

What is Produced Water Worth? The Total Value Proposition in the Marcellus Formation and Permian Basin

Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas extraction and is known to contain lithium, a critical mineral. Produced water can also contain other minerals and commodities that are recoverable and have economic value. Here we focus on estimating the total value proposition of produced water in two important basins. That is, we assess the potential ‘sale price’ of all commodities that could be reasonably extracted from a unit volume of produced water. This value estimate helps better understand the economic and technological opportunities associated with produced water.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nondestructive flash cathode recycling

Effective recycling of end-of-life Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential due to continuous accumulation of battery waste and gradual depletion of battery metal resources. The present closed-loop solutions include destructive conversion to metal compounds, by destroying the entire three-dimensional morphology of the cathode through continuous thermal treatment or harsh wet extraction methods, and direct regeneration by lithium replenishment. Here, we report a solvent- and water-free flash Joule heating (FJH) method combined with magnetic separation to restore fresh cathodes from waste cathodes, followed by solid-state relithiation. The entire process is called flash recycling. This FJH method exhibits the merits of milliseconds of duration and high battery metal recovery yields of ~98%. After FJH, the cathodes reveal intact core structures with hierarchical features, implying the feasibility of their reconstituting into new cathodes. Relithiated cathodes are further used in LIBs, and show good electrochemical performance, comparable to new commercial counterparts. Life-cycle-analysis highlights that flash recycling has higher environmental and economic benefits over traditional destructive recycling processes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Benchmarking optimization methods for materials research: Gradient descent and Bayesian optimization for lithium-ion battery aging diagnostics

Accurate and efficient parameter estimation is essential for battery diagnostics and aging analysis. Here, in this study, we compare two optimization-based approaches—gradient descent and Bayesian optimization—for extracting parameters from differential voltage analysis in lithium-ion batteries. While these techniques are widely used, their relative strengths and limitations for this application are not well understood. The study evaluates the trade-offs between these methods in terms of result quality, computational cost, and reliability within this specific application. The diagnostic results from our battery data suggest adopting gradient descent as an initial method for rapid and efficient analysis, while employing more stable optimization techniques, such as Bayesian optimization, as a verification step to mitigate potential instability. Comparing the two methods provides information on algorithmic choice, while inspiring further discussions on selecting appropriate techniques for specific research tasks.

Zhao, Ziqing [Boston Univ., MA (United States)] (O↗
NASA NTRS2000

Experimental Results from the Thermal Energy Storage-2 (TES-2) Flight Experiment

Thermal Energy Storage-2 (TES-2) is a flight experiment that flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-72), in January 1996. TES-2 originally flew with TES-1 as part of the OAST-2 Hitchhiker payload on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62) in early 1994. The two experiments, TES-1 and TES-2 were identical except for the fluoride salts to be characterized. TES-1 provided data on lithium fluoride (LiF), TES-2 provided data on a fluoride eutectic (LiF/CaF2). Each experiment was a complex autonomous payload in a Get-Away-Special payload canister. TES-1 operated flawlessly for 22 hr. Results were reported in a paper entitled, Effect of Microgravity on Materials Undergoing Melting and Freezing-The TES Experiment, by David Namkoong et al. A software failure in TES-2 caused its shutdown after 4 sec of operation. TES-1 and 2 were the first experiments in a four experiment suite designed to provide data for understanding the long duration microgravity behavior of thermal energy storage salts that undergo repeated melting and freezing. Such data have never been obtained before and have direct application for the development of space-based solar dynamic (SD) power systems. These power systems will store energy in a thermal energy salt such as lithium fluoride or a eutectic of lithium fluoride/calcium difluoride. The stored energy is extracted during the shade portion of the orbit. This enables the solar dynamic power system to provide constant electrical power over the entire orbit. Analytical computer codes were developed for predicting performance of a space-based solar dynamic power system. Experimental verification of the analytical predictions were needed prior to using the analytical results for future space power design applications. The four TES flight experiments were to be used to obtain the needed experimental data. This paper will address the flight results from the first and second experiments, TES-1 and 2, in comparison to the predicted results from the Thermal Energy Storage Simulation (TESSIM) analytical computer code. An analysis of the TES-2 data was conducted by Cleveland State University Professor, Mounir Ibrahim. TESSIM validation was based on two types of results; temperature history of various points on the containment vessel and TES material distribution within the vessel upon return from flight. The TESSIM prediction showed close comparison with the flight data. Distribution of the TES material within the vessel was obtained by a tomography imaging process. The frozen TES material was concentrated toward the colder end of the canister. The TESSIM prediction indicated a similar pattern. With agreement between TESSIM and the flight data, a computerized representation was produced to show the movement and behavior of the void during the entire melting and freezing cycles.

Tolbert, Carol↗
DOE OSTI2024

Using data-science approaches to unravel insights for enhanced transport of lithium ions in single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte

Solid polymer electrolytes have yet to achieve the an ionic conductivity > 1 mS/cm at room temperature for realistic applications. This target implies the need to reduce the effective energy barriers of ion transport in polymer electrolytes to around 20 kJ/mol. In this work, we combine information extracted from existing experimental results with theoretical calculations to provide insights into ion transport in single-ion conductors (SICs) with a focus on lithium ion SICs. Through the analysis of temperature-dependent ionic conductivity data obtained from the literature, we evaluate different methods of extracting energy barriers for lithium transport. The traditional Arrhenius fit to the temperature-dependent ionic conductivity data indicates that the Meyer-Neldel rule holds for SICs. However, the values of the fitting parameters remain unphysical. Our modified approach based on recent work (Macromolecules, 56, 15, 6051(2023)), which incorporates a fixed pre-exponential factor, reveals that the energy barriers exhibit temperature dependence over a wide range of temperatures. Using this approach, we identify a series of anions leading to the energy barriers less than 30 kJ/mol, which include trifluoromethane sulfonimide (TFSI), fluoromethane sulfonimide (FSI), and boron-based organic anions. In our efforts to design the next generation of anions, which can exhibit the energy barriers less than 20 kJ/mol, we focused on boron-containing SICs, and performed density functional theory (DFT) based calculations to connect the chemical structures via the binding energy of cation (lithium)-anion pairs with the experimentally derived effective energy barriers for ion transport. Not only have we identified a correlation between the binding energy and the energy barriers, but we also propose a strategy to design new boron-based anions by using the correlation. This combined approach involving experiments and theoretical calculations is capable of facilitating the identification of promising new anions, which can exhibit ionic conductivity $> 1$ mS/cm near room temperature, thereby expediting the development of novel superionic single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes. The published datasets include all the temperature-dependent ionic conductivity collected from the literature with literature DOIs, DFT calculated binding energies, and python scripts to analyze data, construct statistical models, and generate plots.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Deep Eutectic Solvents as Candidates for Lithium Isotope Enrichment

Nuclear fusion is a phenomenon that is well known within the nuclear physics community as a viable option for alternative energy as many natural gases and fossil fuels are phased out of commercial use. Deuterium and tritium fusion reactions are currently the leading candidates for nuclear fusion, with a major limiting factor being a means to produce tritium on an industrial scale. Lithium-6 is a well-known isotope that can produce tritium and helium following a fission reaction with a neutron. Unfortunately, the lithium-6 enrichment methods are limited to the COLEX process, which leaves behind an alarming amount of mercury waste as a potential environmental contaminant. Deep eutectic solvents are believed to be a potential alternative to lithium isotope separations due to the ease of generation, in addition to the minimum environmental waste generated when these solvents are employed. Previous studies have suggested that deep eutectic solvents are capable of separating lithium isotopes by utilizing a 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone and trioctylphosphine oxide system that can biphasically react with a buffered solution containing lithium chloride. This system displays a separation factor of 1.068, which when compared to the 1.054 separation within the COLEX process, makes it a potential candidate for lithium-6/7 separation. Within this study, we investigate this system in comparison to two newly synthesized deep eutectic solvents and find that within these acetylacetone-based systems, little isotopic separation is observed. We investigate these systems both experimentally and computationally, showing the different lithium cation affinities, in addition to proposing how the electron-donating or -withdrawing nature can influence these systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Using Data-Science Approaches to Unravel Insights for Enhanced Transport of Lithium Ions in Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes

Solid polymer electrolytes have yet to achieve the desired ionic conductivity (>1 mS/cm) near room temperature required for many applications. This target implies the need to reduce the effective energy barriers for ion transport in polymer electrolytes to around 20 kJ/mol. In this work, we combine information extracted from existing experimental results with theoretical calculations to provide insights into ion transport in single-ion conductors (SICs) with a focus on lithium ion SICs. Through the analysis of temperature-dependent ionic conductivity data obtained from the literature, we evaluate different methods of extracting energy barriers for lithium transport. The traditional Arrhenius fit to the temperature-dependent ionic conductivity data indicates that the Meyer–Neldel rule holds for SICs. However, the values of the fitting parameters remain unphysical. Our modified approach based on recent work (Macromolecules 2023, 56, 15, 6051), which incorporates a fixed pre-exponential factor, reveals that the energy barriers exhibit temperature dependence over a wide range of temperatures. Using this approach, we identify anions leading to the energy barriers <30 kJ/mol, which include trifluoromethane sulfonimide (TFSI), fluoromethane sulfonimide (FSI), and boron-based organic anions. In our efforts to design the next generation of anions, which can exhibit the energy barriers <20 kJ/mol, we have performed density functional theory (DFT) based calculations to connect the chemical structures of boron-based anions via the binding energy of cation (lithium)-anion pairs with the experimentally derived effective energy barriers for ion hopping. Not only have we identified a correlation between the binding energy and the energy barriers, but we also propose a strategy to design new boron-based anions by using the correlation. This combined approach involving experiments and theoretical calculations is capable of facilitating the identification of promising new anions, which can exhibit ionic conductivity >1 mS/cm near room temperature, thereby expediting the development of novel superionic single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Battery charging goes quantum

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power consumer electronics and electric vehicles, making them an essential component of the modern economy. Although lithium-ion battery technology has improved continuously over the past decades, widespread adoption of electrified transportation requires charging in less than 15 min to be competitive with internal combustion engines. As a battery charges and discharges, lithium ions travel across the electrode-electrolyte interface. The rate at which lithium ions transfer is dictated by the structure and physical properties of electrolytes and lithium-storing electrodes. Yet, the exact chemical reaction mechanism underlying the insertion of lithium ions at the electrode-electrolyte interface remains elusive. On page 46 of this issue, Zhang et al. (1) report experimental evidence that shows that lithium-ion battery charge and discharge occur through a coupled ion-electron transfer mechanism. Furthermore, this could establish an experimental and theoretical platform to extract key parameters for optimizing charge transfer rates in lithium-ion batteries.

Warburton, Robert E. [Case Western Reserve Univers↗
DOE OSTI2024

Estimating Lithium Fluxes from Produced Water: Marcellus Shale and Beyond

This talk summarizes the potential for critical minerals extraction from produced water and the current data constraints on making these evaluations. First, we present results from production simulations carried out using data from the Marcellus shale showing the lithium resource potential from this formation. Second, we broaden our estimations to show the critical mineral resource estimates from U.S. domestic shale operations. Lastly, we conclude with an overview of the NEWTS database and dashboard where we host the data used in our assessments.

Mackey, Justin↗
NASA NTRS1995

Experimental Results from the Thermal Energy Storage-1 (TES-1) Flight Experiment

The Thermal Energy Storage-1 (TES-1) is a flight experiment that flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62), in March 1994, as part of the OAST-2 mission. TES-1 is the first experiment in a four experiment suite designed to provide data for understanding the long duration microgravity behavior of thermal energy storage fluoride salts that undergo repeated melting and freezing. Such data have never been obtained before and have direct application for the development of space-based solar dynamic (SD) power systems. These power systems will store solar energy in a thermal energy salt such as lithium fluoride or calcium fluoride. The stored energy is extracted during the shade portion of the orbit. This enables the solar dynamic power system to provide constant electrical power over the entire orbit. Analytical computer codes have been developed for predicting performance of a spaced-based solar dynamic power system. Experimental verification of the analytical predictions is needed prior to using the analytical results for future space power design applications. The four TES flight experiments will be used to obtain the needed experimental data. This paper will focus on the flight results from the first experiment, TES-1, in comparison to the predicted results from the Thermal Energy Storage Simulation (TESSIM) analytical computer code. The TES-1 conceptual development, hardware design, final development, and system verification testing were accomplished at the NASA lewis Research Center (LeRC). TES-1 was developed under the In-Space Technology Experiment Program (IN-STEP), which sponsors NASA, industry, and university flight experiments designed to enable and enhance space flight technology. The IN-STEP Program is sponsored by the Office of Space Access and Technology (OSAT).

Wald, Lawrence W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Fabrication and evaluation of chemically vapor deposited tungsten heat pipe

A network of lithium-filled tungsten heat pipes is considered as a method of heat extraction from high temperature nuclear reactors. The need for material purity and shape versatility in these applications dictates the use of chemically vapor deposited (CVD) tungsten. Adaptability of CVD tungsten to complex heat pipe designs is shown. Deposition and welding techniques are described. Operation of two lithium-filled CVD tungsten heat pipes above 1800 K is discussed.

Bacigalupi, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Effects of heavy particle irradiation and diet on amphetamine- and lithium chloride-induced taste avoidance learning in rats

Rats were maintained on diets containing either 2% blueberry or strawberry extract or a control diet for 8 weeks prior to being exposed to 1.5 Gy of 56Fe particles in the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Three days following irradiation, the rats were tested for the effects of irradiation on the acquisition of an amphetamine- or lithium chloride-induced (LiCl) conditioned taste avoidance (CTA). The rats maintained on the control diet failed to show the acquisition of a CTA following injection of amphetamine. In contrast, the rats maintained on antioxidant diets (strawberry or blueberry extract) continued to show the development of an amphetamine-induced CTA following exposure to 56Fe particles. Neither irradiation nor diet had an effect on the acquisition of a LiCl-induced CTA. The results are interpreted as indicating that oxidative stress following exposure to 56Fe particles may be responsible for the disruption of the dopamine-mediated amphetamine-induced CTA in rats fed control diets; and that a reduction in oxidative stress produced by the antioxidant diets functions to reinstate the dopamine-mediated CTA. The failure of either irradiation or diet to influence LiCl-induced responding suggests that oxidative stress may not be involved in CTA learning following injection of LiCl.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1972

Fabrication and evaluation of chemically vapor deposited tungsten heat pipe.

A network of lithium-filled tungsten heat pipes is being considered as a method of heat extraction from high temperature nuclear reactors. The need for material purity and shape versatility in these applications dictates the use of chemically vapor deposited (CVD) tungsten. Adaptability of CVD tungsten to complex heat pipe designs is shown. Deposition and welding techniques are described. Operation of two lithium-filled CVD tungsten heat pipes above 1800 K is discussed.

Bacigalupi, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Informed Critical Mineral Recovery from Fossil Energy Waste Feedstocks

Critical minerals (CM), such as rare earth elements (REE), cobalt, nickel, and lithium, have important uses in modern energy and technologies, yet are vulnerable to potential supply chain disruptions. One potential domestic CM source is fossil energy wastes, such as coal combustion ash, acid mine drainage (AMD) and treatment solids (AMD solids), and Oil and Gas (O&G) drilling wastes (drill cuttings and produced waters). CM recovery from these feedstocks is promising due to their abundant quantity and fast availability as waste products. To develop informed and effective CM recovery, DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have collected and analyzed CM data for aforementioned fossil energy wastes, and utilized advanced geochemical characterization (e.g., synchrotron microprobe, sequential extraction and geochemical modeling) to identify the CM speciation and binding environments. Novel methods that recover multiple CMs while co-producing other valuable byproducts from these feedstocks have been developed. Successful examples include: (1) the discovery of easily mobile REE phases in Ca-rich coal combustion ash resulted in a patented REE recovery process from the ash feedstock while producing zeolite sorbents from the extraction wastes; (2) the successful identification of REE/Co/Ni/Zn hosting phases in acid mine drainage treatment solids (AMD solids) has informed the sequential CM recovery from AMD solids and has inspired lithium sorbent development from the extraction wastes; (3) the recovery potential of Li and other CMs in O&G produced waters and drill cuttings has been explored while the extraction residuals have been demonstrated to support plant growth as soil supplements. The innovations driven by characterization information have the potential to maximize CM recovery revenue, offset the cost of waste management and wastewater treatments while reducing the cost and environmental footprint of CM extraction.

characterization and extraction of rare earth elem↗