Progress and Perspectives of Lithium Isotope Separation

Stabilized lithium isotopes (6Li, 7Li) play an important role in related fields such as energy and defense. With the advancement of nuclear technology, the demand for lithium isotopes is expected to increase significantly. Although the separation of lithium amalgam is effective, it poses greater pollution risks. Therefore, it is very important to establish an efficient, green and sustainable lithium isotope separation method. Lithium isotopes are extremely difficult to isolate, but the discovery of their differences in migration (diffusion) rates, optical excitation, magnetic field response, and chemical binding has enable their potential separation lithium isotopes. Among the various lithium isotope separation methods developed, electrochemical migration stands out as a technique with industrial potential due to its high single-stage separation factor. Hence, this paper focuses on the research progress of lithium isotope separation methods with significant industrial potential. It elucidates the merits and challenges of various techniques, explores key obstacles to their industrialization. Finally, a method for separating lithium isotopes using solid electrolytes is described in the context of lithium-ion battery technology and related research on lithium isotope separation. Despite being in its infancy, this method warrants further research and experimentation.