When we labeled this post a breath of fresh air for some batteries, we were thinking specifically of lithium-air chemistry.
We were wondering whether its cells might be able to overcome the notorious instability of lithium-ion batteries. And perhaps even help with utility energy storage.
How Air Breathes Life Into These Batteries
A lithium-air battery is a special class of a metal-air battery, that oxidizes lithium at its anode. While it simultaneously reduces the oxygen at its cathode so current can flow.
This opens the door, at least theoretically, to a specific capacity that’s one of the highest among other lithium-based batteries. Indeed, quite incredibly, this breath of fresh air for those batteries could put one of them on par with the energy potential of gasoline.
Staying with that theory for a moment, lithium-air energy potential should at least be several times greater than lithium-ion. Could this be the battery chemistry we have been waiting for? Chemistry that could see electric cars finally competing with their gasoline counterparts.
But steady on there for a moment, and don’t let’s run ahead of ourselves. These lithium-air batteries have several technical problem to overcome first. Their issues include insulating films accumulating on electrode surfaces, and clogging the spaces for ions.
Is This the End of the Road For Lithium-Air Batteries?
No not at all! The potential for this breath of fresh air for lithium-based batteries is still there. It is more of a ‘yield sign’ at the moment, to let other batteries, like sodium-ion through. Here are a few issues waiting for scientists to resolve in the future:
- The water and carbon-dioxide from fresh air disturb chemical reactions, and shorten battery lifespan.
- A complete battery discharge is not entirely reversible, preventing some ions from returning.
So we are actually describing a longer-term dream, when lithium-air batteries finally become a breath of fresh air for the battery industry. Perhaps this chemistry will find its place when we divide battery streams into different applications. After all, anything is possible in our evolving world of batteries.
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Stresses in Lithium-Metal Batteries
