Solar‐driven high specific surface network membrane for efficient lithium recovery

Abstract BACKGROUND Lithium‐ion sieve adsorption is considered the most promising method for lithium recovery from salt lakes, although efficiency limitations restrict its industrial application. RESULTS In this work, the network structure adsorption membrane with excellent photothermal conversion capability was developed for efficient lithium extraction from salt lakes. The designed network structure of H 4 Mn 5 O 12 /MnO 2 nanowires membrane ensures sufficient contact between the solution and Lithium‐ion sieve adsorption sites, while its outstanding photothermal properties further enhance Li + adsorption. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the H 4 Mn 5 O 12 /MnO 2 nanowires membrane surface temperature reaches 66 °C under 1.0 sun illumination. Adsorption kinetic data revealed a lithium adsorption capacity of 16.07 mg/g under 1.0 sun illumination, representing a 5.11 mg/g improvement compared to dark conditions. Furthermore, the H 4 Mn 5 O 12 /MnO 2 nanowires membrane exhibited excellent adsorption selectivity and cycling performance. CONCLUSION Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy for developing high‐performance lithium‐ion sieve composites to meet the growing demand for lithium recovery from brine. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).