Meet John Liu, the student who used corn stalks and wheat straw to recover lithium from dilute water

Lithium is a crucial ingredient in rechargeable batteries, but recovering it from dilute sources can be difficult and energy-intensive.

John Liu, a high school student from St.

Paul, Minnesota, approached that problem by looking at materials that are usually left behind after harvest: corn stalks and wheat straw.

His project, titled ‘Passive Capillary-Evaporative Lithium Pre-Concentration from Dilute Brines Using Functionalized Corn Stalk Pith and Wheat Straw Scaffolds,’ explored whether agricultural waste could help concentrate lithium from dilute brines.

The project earned Liu a place among Minnesota’s finalists for the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and a Gold Award at the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair.