Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are rechargeable energy carriers that power electronic devices such as phones, cars, and hybrid/electric vehicles. The demand for lithium used to manufacture LIBs is expected to grow 30-fold by 2040. Industry primarily extracts lithium from rock ore and brine; however, the methods used are time-intensive and costly. Therefore, we are investigating alternative extraction methods that would reduce the energy consumption, waste production, and time intensity. The image, obtained by microscopy, is of salts that crystallized after evaporation of a lithium-containing brine.
Submission Year:
2023
Photographer's affiliation:
Graduate student
Academic areas:
Arts and Science
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Art of Research categories:
Innovation for global impact
Photo:
![[Photo of a crystallization pattern of a common salt mixture]](/research/sites/all/modules/contrib/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif "Crystallization Pattern of a Common Salt Mixture")
Categories:
Grad student
Faculty of Arts and Science
Department of Chemistry
School of Graduate Studies
Interdisciplinary research in materials, computational analytics and human-machine interactions
Materials Discovery and Molecular Design
Sustainability, Environment and Resources
Alternative Energy Solutions and Energy Policy
Cleantech
Protecting the Natural Environment
Location of photograph:
Electron Microscopy Facility, Queen's University
Photographer's name:
Rachel Korchinsky
Display Photographers Affiltion + Faculty or Department:
Graduate Student, Chemistry