The need for high-performance lithium compounds is anticipated to increase exponentially in response to the rising demand for electric vehicles and other lithium-based strategical technologies. This is related mainly to the goals of a climate-neutral EU by 2050, which is a major driver for the search for new sources of domestic lithium raw materials. By 2040, up to 90% of the demand for lithium will come from the battery material as a major matter for environmentally friendly technologies [1]. The battery market has seen various technological advancements that have increased the demand for metal. Because there is no viable alternative to using lithium-ion batteries, the use of lithium in this market is growing more quickly than other essential materials used in batteries: for instance, some traction batteries can function without one or two common material components, such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, or graphite, but not lithium. Excellence aligns with the main technological and market trends in the project area, which include: i) the decarbonization of the economy, transitioning to renewable and low-carbon energy sources worldwide; ii) the growing demand for high-quality energy accumulators for technological smoothing of energy consumption fluctuations; iii) the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, and the gradual shift to electric traction in other modes of transportation such as shipbuilding and aviation; iv) the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries as the most efficient batteries in their class; v) the growing demand for lithium carbonate as one of the primary types of mineral resources necessary for the production of lithium-ion batteries.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.