High purity lithium and associated products and processes

Abstract

High purity lithium and associated products are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a lithium metal product in which the lithium metal is obtained using a selective lithium ion conducting layer. The selective lithium ion conducting layer includes an active metal ion conducting glass or glass ceramic that conducts only lithium ions. The present lithium metal products produced using a selective lithium ion conducting layer advantageously provide for improved lithium purity when compared to commercial lithium metal. Pursuant to the present disclosure, lithium metal having a purity of at least 99.96 weight percent on a metals basis can be obtained.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A lithium metal product prepared by a process comprising:
 providing a lithium ion source in a saturated aqueous solution of lithium salts wherein lithium anion is dissolved in a solvent to form a lithium feed solution;   providing an anode in contact with the lithium feed solution;   providing a composite layer transecting an axis of a cell body, the composite layer, comprising a lithium ion glass-ceramic;   providing a copper cathode movable within the cell body to a position apart from composite layer contact and suitable for electrolysis of lithium;   providing a catholyte on a cathode side of an electrolytic cell; and   providing an ionizing electric current to the electrolytic cell, thereby isolating lithium ions, placing the lithium ions into the aqueous solution, and electrically depositing lithium metal onto the copper cathode.   
     
     
         2 . A lithium metal electrode comprising:
 a lithium metal having a purity of greater than 99.96 weight percent on a metals basis, wherein the lithium metal is enriched with a lithium isotope by 1% or more.   
     
     
         3 . The lithium metal electrode of  claim 2 , wherein the lithium isotope is selected from the group consisting of Lithium-6 and Lithium-7. 
     
     
         4 . The lithium metal electrode of  claim 2 , wherein the lithium metal is enriched with Lithium-6 by 1.17% or more. 
     
     
         5 . A battery comprising:
 a cathode;   an anode comprising a lithium metal having a purity of greater than 99.96 weight percent on a metals basis, wherein the lithium metal is enriched with a lithium isotope by 1% or more; and   an electrolyte.   
     
     
         6 . A process comprising:
 providing a lithium ion source in a saturated aqueous solution of lithium salts wherein lithium anion is dissolved in a solvent to form a lithium feed solution;   providing an anode in contact with the lithium feed solution;   providing a composite layer transecting an axis of a cell body, the composite layer, comprising a lithium ion glass-ceramic;   providing an adjustable cathode movable within the cell body to a position apart from composite layer contact and suitable for electrolysis of lithium;   providing a catholyte on a cathode side of an electrolytic cell; and   providing an ionizing electric current to the electrolytic cell, thereby continuously forming lithium metal with a solid electrolyte interphase layer onto the cathode.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the lithium ions diffuse through a selective lithium ion conducting layer having a lithium metal ion conductivity of at least 10 −9  S/cm. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the catholyte is a nonaqueous electrolyte consisting of lithium salts in organic solvents. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the catholyte is selected from the group consisting of a lithium hexafluorophosphate based electrolyte, a trifluoromethanesulfonyl-imide ionic liquid based electrolyte, an ether based electrolyte, and a sulfone based electrolyte. 
     
     
         10 . A lithium metal product prepared by a process comprising:
 providing a lithium ion source in a saturated aqueous solution of lithium salts wherein lithium anion is dissolved in a solvent to form a lithium feed solution;   providing an anode in contact with the lithium feed solution;   providing a composite layer transecting an axis of a cell body, the composite layer, comprising a lithium ion glass-ceramic;   providing an adjustable cathode movable within the cell body to a position apart from composite layer contact and suitable for electrolysis of lithium;   providing a catholyte on a cathode side of an electrolytic cell; and   providing an ionizing electric current to the electrolytic cell, thereby continuously forming lithium metal with a solid electrolyte interphase layer onto the cathode.