A novel imprinted porous liquid for lithium extraction

Abstract

Porous liquids (PLs) are a novel material that combines the advantages of porous solids and liquid fluidity. In this study, we propose an imprinted porous liquid (IPL) with imprinted polymers as the porous framework and a mixture of TOP + FeCl3 as sterically hindered solvents. Quantum chemical computations and characterization results demonstrate the presence of unoccupied pore structure in IPLs. The prepared IPLs exhibit excellent selective adsorption and extraction performance for lithium extraction, achieving a Li/Mg separation factor of 1540 and a single‐stage Li+ extraction efficiency of 86%. The Li+ extraction efficiency remains above 84% even after eight cycles. Analytical characterization along with quantum chemical computations elucidates the mechanism underlying the coupling between extraction and adsorption in IPLs, enabling efficient lithium extraction. By combining imprinting technology with PLs, IPLs expand upon existing frameworks for PLs materials while providing new insights for designing functional solvents.