MIT unveils low‑cost lithium production; Cornell develops battery‑reviving technology

Researchers at MIT have demonstrated a room‑temperature process that extracts lithium from hard‑rock spodumene using water and ammonium fluoride, cutting production costs by about half and generating reusable aluminum and silica by‑products. The method, published in *Science* and tested on 17 ore samples, could help meet the projected four‑fold rise in global lithium demand by 2040. Commercial scaling is being pursued by Rock Zero, a spin‑off company.

At Cornell University, a new Direct Electrode‑to‑Electrode Regeneration (DEER) technique restores up to 95% of a lithium‑ion cell’s original capacity without dismantling the battery. By dissolving the thickened solid‑electrolyte‑interphase layer, the process also adds a protective coating that slows future degradation. DEER promises to slash recycling costs by roughly 56% and reduce associated emissions and water use, offering a more sustainable path for electric‑vehicle and grid‑scale battery reuse.