Sorbent for lithium extraction from brines

A composition for extracting lithium from a brine, the composition comprising:

• a structure comprising a plurality of hexagonal sheets comprising lithium aluminum hydroxide and chloride ions and/or hydroxide anions between the plurality of hexagonal sheets, each of the plurality of hexagonal sheets comprising one or more vacant sites, wherein each respective hexagonal sheet of the plurality of hexagonal sheets is separated from a next hexagonal sheet by a separation distance,
• wherein two or more of the plurality of hexagonal sheets are stacked on top of one another without intersecting;
• and
• one or more ions from a reinforcing material bonded to an outside edge of one or more of the plurality of hexagonal sheets and between each of the plurality of hexagonal sheets, wherein the one or more ions from the reinforcing material supports a crystal structure of the plurality of hexagonal sheets when the composition is washed with a stripping fluid and maintains the separation distance between one or more of the plurality of hexagonal sheets, and
• wherein the one or more reinforcing ions includes at least one of titanium ions, aluminum ions, tungsten ions, or silicate ions.