In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

A method for producing aluminum includes: a dissolution step of dissolving a hydrate containing Al in water to prepare an aqueous solution that contains Al ions; an extraction step of bringing an organic phase that is composed of an extractant into contact with an aqueous phase that is composed of the aqueous solution to extract the Al ions in the aqueous phase into the organic phase; and an electrodeposition step of electrolyzing the organic phase as an electrolytic solution to electrodeposit metallic Al onto a surface of a cathode from the Al ions in the electrolytic solution.

New copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes are disclosed. The copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes may be used in an aluminum electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a method includes installing the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode in the aluminum electrolysis cell and operating the aluminum electrolysis cell. During start-up, the aluminum electrolysis cell may be preheated and a bath may be formed from a molten electrolyte. Alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) may in the added to the bath and reduced to aluminum metal. At least some of the copper film of the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode may be replaced by an aluminum film, thereby forming an aluminum-wetted titanium diboride electrode.

New copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes are disclosed. The copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes may be used in an aluminum electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a method includes installing the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode in the aluminum electrolysis cell and operating the aluminum electrolysis cell. During start-up, the aluminum electrolysis cell may be preheated and a bath may be formed from a molten electrolyte. Alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) may in the added to the bath and reduced to aluminum metal. At least some of the copper film of the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode may be replaced by an aluminum film, thereby forming an aluminum-wetted titanium diboride electrode.

A decoupled plating system is provided for producing lithium. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a feed tank configured to supply a lithium-rich aqueous electrolyte stream, a plating tank that is configured to receive an organic electrolyte and plate out lithium metal from that organic electrolyte, and one or more lithium replenishment cells configured to receive both electrolytes, keep them separated, and selectively move lithium ions from the aqueous electrolyte into the spent organic electrolyte stream. The present system and process can advantageously reduce operating costs and/or improve energy efficiency in production of lithium metal and associated products.

A decoupled plating system is provided for producing lithium. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a feed tank configured to supply a lithium-rich aqueous electrolyte stream, a plating tank that is configured to receive an organic electrolyte and plate out lithium metal from that organic electrolyte, and one or more lithium replenishment cells configured to receive both electrolytes, keep them separated, and selectively move lithium ions from the aqueous electrolyte into the spent organic electrolyte stream. The present system and process can advantageously reduce operating costs and/or improve energy efficiency in production of lithium metal and associated products.

According to the present invention, a wiring substrate (100) has a first terminal (112) and a second terminal (114). The second terminal (114) is electrically connected to the first terminal (112). A chip (200) has a working electrode (222) and a terminal (224). The terminal (224) is electrically connected to the working electrode (222). An electronic element (300) has a current-voltage conversion circuit (310) and a terminal (312). The terminal (312) is electrically connected to the current-voltage conversion circuit (310). The chip (200) overlaps with the wiring substrate (100). The terminal (224) of the chip (200) is electrically connected to the first terminal (112) of the wiring substrate (100). The electronic element (300) overlaps with the wiring substrate (100). The terminal (312) of the electronic element (300) is electrically connected to the second terminal (114) of the wiring substrate (100).

According to the present invention, a wiring substrate (100) has a first terminal (112) and a second terminal (114). The second terminal (114) is electrically connected to the first terminal (112). A chip (200) has a working electrode (222) and a terminal (224). The terminal (224) is electrically connected to the working electrode (222). An electronic element (300) has a current-voltage conversion circuit (310) and a terminal (312). The terminal (312) is electrically connected to the current-voltage conversion circuit (310). The chip (200) overlaps with the wiring substrate (100). The terminal (224) of the chip (200) is electrically connected to the first terminal (112) of the wiring substrate (100). The electronic element (300) overlaps with the wiring substrate (100). The terminal (312) of the electronic element (300) is electrically connected to the second terminal (114) of the wiring substrate (100).

Layered Period Four transition metal oxide materials composed of lithium transition metal oxides and sodium transition metal oxides, in which the transition metal oxide is cobalt, manganese, nickel, or a combination of two or more thereof or provided. Also provided are electrochemical cells incorporating the layered transition metal oxides as electrode materials and methods for extracting dissolved lithium from solution using the electrochemical cells. In the materials a lithium transition metal oxide phase and a sodium transition metal oxide phase exist as separate phases connected by a transition region of intermediate composition and layer spacing to form a stable structure.