Lithium is a key raw material for the energy transition: without lithium-ion batteries, electric mobility and sustainable energy storage would hardly be possible. However, lithium is currently extracted primarily in Australia, South America, or China – often under environmentally and socially problematic conditions and with long transport routes to Europe.
How lithium can be extracted in a more sustainable, efficient, and regional way is the focus of an interactive exhibit by the INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken, presented on board the MS Wissenschaft 2025. This floating science center is part of the 2025 German Science Year (Wissenschaftsjahr), which runs under the motto “Future Energy”.
The INM exhibit – one of 27 interactive stations on board – is based on the research of Prof. Volker Presser and his team. It presents an innovative electrochemical method for extracting lithium ions from seawater, mine water, or geothermal water – without chemical additives, with low energy consumption, and directly on site. The process is also suitable for recycling lithium from used batteries.
Visitors will be introduced to the technology in a clear and engaging way: an interactive 3D animation explains step by step how the electrochemical cell works and how lithium ions are separated. Illustrated information panels complement the animation and provide broader context. They explain where and under what conditions lithium is extracted around the world, and highlight the environmental and social challenges involved. They also show where aqueous lithium resources exist in Germany and describe the electrochemical principles behind the novel process. “This is a great opportunity to present our research outside the lab and beyond academic journals – in a way that the public can understand,” says Prof. Volker Presser. “We’re especially excited to spark interest among young people in sustainable energy and inspire curiosity for science and materials research.”
The MS Wissenschaft is a converted inland cargo ship operated by Wissenschaft im Dialog on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). From spring to fall 2025, the ship will bring hands-on science to over 30 cities in Germany and Austria – including three stops in the Saarland:
- Saarbrücken, near the Congress Hall: 22–25 July 2025
- Saarlouis, Theo Dohr docking station: 26–30 July 2025
- Merzig, Merzig docking station: 31 July – 3 August 2025
In Saarbrücken, INM researchers will be on board at selected times for “Meet the Scientists” events. The schedule and further details will be published on the MS Wissenschaft website: www.ms-wissenschaft.de
Photo: © Ilja C. Hendel / Wissenschaft im Dialog
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