Adsorption Technology for Lithium Extraction: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

ABSTRACT

Lithium, a critical enabler of the new energy paradigm, has made its efficient recovery a strategic priority worldwide. Among direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies, adsorption stands out for its superior Mg/Li selectivity and low energy intensity when processing salt‐lake brines. This review critically surveys recent breakthroughs in inorganic ion sieves, covering anion‐dependent behavior and magnetic functionalization of Li/Al‐LDHs, synergistic doping–coating strategies for Mn‐based sieves, and atomic‐scale engineering of Ti‐based systems. It further examines emerging adsorbents, including MOFs, COFs, and crown‐ether hybrids, with respect to their lithium‐recognition mechanisms and application potential. On this basis, the review distills key scientific bottlenecks and engineering obstacles, and outlines transformative pathways forward, notably machine‐learning‐assisted material design, electrochemical–adsorption integration, and recovery from ultra‐dilute resources. Unlike previous reviews that focus on individual material classes, this review establishes a unified cross‐category framework that links synthesis dimensions, evidence levels, performance trade‐offs, and application‐specific decision rules for adsorptive lithium extraction. In doing so, it aims to provide a cohesive framework for both fundamental inquiry and industrial deployment of adsorptive lithium extraction.