MIT scientists make lithium-ion breakthrough that could solve a global battery issue — new low-cost extraction method was inspired by a bathroom renovation project and could reduce reliance on China

A phone showing its battery on top of a laptop, next to an image of the common mineral spodumene.

• A new lithium extraction process has been developed at MIT
• It's cheaper and more eco-friendly than current techniques
• The innovation could shift the extraction industry away from China

Lithium-ion batteries power most of our tech devices, from the best phones to the best drones, so the element lithium is in demand. Now, scientists working at MIT have come up with a new way to extract it from rock, which is cheaper and more eco-friendly than the techniques currently used.