Lithium–air battery

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Lithium–air battery
Specific energy 11,140 (theoretical) W·h/kg
Energy density ???
Specific power ???
Nominal cell voltage 2.91 V

The lithium-air battery, Li-air for short, is a metal-air battery chemistry that uses the oxidation of lithium at the anode and reduction of oxygen at the cathode to induce a current flow. Originally proposed in the 1970s as a possible power source for electric vehicles, Li-air batteries recaptured scientific interest in the late 2000s due to advances in materials technology and an increasing demand for environmentally safe and oil-independent energy sources.

The major appeal of the Li-air battery is the extremely high specific energy, a measure of the amount of energy a battery can store for a given weight. A lithium-air battery has an energy density (per kilo) comparable to gasoline per kilo. Li-air batteries gain this advantage in specific energy since they use oxygen from the air instead of storing an oxidizer internally.

The technology requires significant research in a variety of fields before a viable commercial implementation is expected.[1] Four approaches are being pursued; aprotic,[2][3] aqueous,[4] solid state,[5] and mixed aqueous/aprotic.[6]

Lithium batteries have received considerable attention since the 1970s. The first commercial lithium cells during the 1990s. Lithium batteries offer high performance due to the intrinsic high specific energy densities.[7]

Metal-air batteries, specifically zinc, have received attention due to the potential for high energy densities. The theoretical specific energy densities for metal-air batteries are higher than for ion-based approaches, due to the use of atmospheric oxygen as the cathode, eliminating a traditional cathode structure. Recently, lithium-air batteries have been proposed as the next step in lithium battery architecture, due to the high specific energy density of lithium with respect to air (3840 mA·h/g).[8]

A major force in lithium-air battery development is the demand for advanced battery technology for the automotive sector. The energy density of gasoline is approximately 13 kW·h/kg, which corresponds to 1.7 kW·h/kg of energy provided to the wheels after losses. The theoretical energy density of the lithium-air battery is 12 kW·h/kg (43.2 MJ/kg) excluding the oxygen mass. It has been theorized that the same 1.7 kW·h/kg could reach the wheels using Li-air after losses from over-potentials, other cell components, battery pack ancillaries, given the much higher efficiency of electric motors.[9]

Lithium-air batteries have the potential of 5–15 times the specific energy of current lithium-ion batteries.[10]


In the mid-1990s, K.M. Abraham and co-workers demonstrated the first non-aqueous Li–air battery with the use of a Li negative electrode (anode), a porous carbon positive electrode (cathode), and a gel polymer electrolyte membrane that served as both the separator and ion-transporting medium.[11][12] Oxygen from the atmosphere enters the pores of the carbon cathode to serve as the cathode active material. Under discharge this oxygen was reduced and the products stored in the pores of the carbon electrode. The Li ion conducting gel polymer electrolytes were based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN)[13] and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF).[14]


Schematic of lithium-air battery charge and discharge cycles

Although the electrochemical details vary by battery design (and consequently electrolyte type), in general, lithium is oxidized at the anode forming lithium ions and electrons. The electrons follow the external circuit to do electric work and the lithium ions migrate across the electrolyte to reduce oxygen at the cathode. When an externally applied potential is greater than the standard potential for the discharge reaction, lithium metal is plated out on the anode, and O
is generated at the cathode.[15]

Schematic of artificial vs. spontaneous electrolyte interface


Lithium metal is the current choice of anode material for Li-air batteries. At the anode, electrochemical potential forces the lithium metal to give off electrons as per the oxidation. The half reaction is:[16]

Li ↔ Li+ + e-

Lithium has high specific capacity (3840 mAh/g) compared with other metal-air battery materials (820 mAh/g for Zinc, 2965 mAh/g for aluminium).[7] Several issues affect such cells. Upon charging/discharging in aprotic cells, layers of lithium salts precipitate onto the anode, eventually covering it and creating a barrier between the lithium and electrolyte. This barrier initially prevents corrosion, but eventually inhibits the reaction kinetics between the anode and the electrolyte.[17] This chemical change of the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) results in varying chemical composition across the surface, causing the current to vary from point to point. The uneven current distribution furthers branch-like dendrite growth and typically leads to a short between the anode and cathode.[18] Also, in aqueous cells, problems at the SEI stem from the high reactivity of lithium metal with water.[19]

Several approaches have been taken to overcome problems at the SEI:

1. Formation of a Li-ion conductive artificial protective layer using di- and triblock copolymer electrolytes.[20] According to Seeo, Inc.,[20] electrolytes made from di- and triblock copolymer (e.g. polystyrene with the high Li-ion conductivity of a soft polymer segment, such as a poly(ethylene oxide PEO/ Li-salt mixture) ) combine the mechanical stability of a hard polymer segment with the high ionic conductivity of the soft polymer/lithium salt mixture. The hardness inhibits dendrite shorts via mechanical blocking
2. Use of a Li-ion conducting glass or glass-ceramic material.[5][21][22] Li-ion conducting ceramic materials are (generally) readily reduced by lithium metal, and therefore a thin film of a stable lithium conducting material, such as Li
or Li
, could be inserted between the ceramic and metal. This ceramic based SEI inhibits the formation of dendrites and protects the lithium metal from atmospheric contamination.

Cathode and electrolyte[edit]

At the cathode, reduction occurs by the recombination of lithium ions with oxygen. Mesoporous carbon has been used as a cathode material with metal catalysts.[23] Metal catalysts incorporated into the carbon electrode enhance the oxygen reduction kinetics and increase the specific capacity of the cathode.[10] Manganese, cobalt, ruthenium, platinum, silver, or a mixture of cobalt and manganese are under consideration as metal catalysts. Under some circumstances manganese catalyzed cathodes performed best, with a specific capacity of 3137 mA·H/g carbon, and cobalt catalyzed cathodes performed second best, with a specific capacity of 2414 mA·H/g carbon.[11]

Li-air cell performance is limited by the efficiency of reaction at the cathode because most of the cell voltage drop occurs there.[7] Multiple battery chemistries, delineated by electrolyte, display varying electrochemical reactions at the cathode. The discussion below is focused on aprotic and aqueous electrolytes as the exact electrochemistry taking place in solid-state electrolytes is not well understood.

In a cell with an aprotic electrolyte lithium oxides are produced through reduction at the cathode:

Li+ + e- +O
+ * → LiO
Li+ + e- +LiO
* →Li
where "*" denotes a surface site on Li
where growth proceeds, which is essentially a neutral Li vacancy in the Li

Lithium oxides are insoluble in aprotic electrolytes, which leads to cathode clogging.[24]

In a cell with an aqueous electrolyte the reduction at the cathode can also produce lithium hydroxide:

  • Acidic electrolyte
2Li + ½O
+ 2H+ → 2Li++ H
A conjugate base is involved in the reaction. The theoretical maximal Li-air cell specific energy and Li-air cell energy density is 1400 W·h/kg and 1680 W·h/l, respectively.[9]
  • Alkaline aqueous electrolyte
2Li + ½O
+ H
→ 2LiOH
Water molecules are involved in the redox reactions at the air cathode. The theoretical maximal Li-air cell specific energy and Li-air cell energy density is 1300 W·h/kg and 1520 W·h/l, respectively.[9]

The development of new cathode materials must account for the accommodation of substantial amounts of LiO
and/or LiOH without causing a blockage of the cathode pores and find suitable catalysts to make the electrochemical reactions energetically practical.

  • As an example, dual pore system materials are the most promising in terms of energy capacity.[25]
  • The first pore system of the material serves as an oxidation product store.
  • The second pore system of the material serves as oxygen transport.

Electrode designs[edit]


nanowire array cathode augmented by a genetically-modified version of the M13 virus offers two to three times the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries. The virus increased the size of the nanowire array, which is about 80 nm across. The resulting wires had a rough, spiked surface. Spikes create more surface area to support the chemical reaction. The viral process creates a cross-linked 3D structure, rather than isolated wires, stabilizing the electrode. The viral process is water-based and done at room temperature.[26][27]

Electrolyte designs[edit]

Efforts in Li-air batteries have focused on four different chemical designs. All the designs have distinct advantages and significant technical challenges.


Schematic of aprotic type Li-Air battery design

Most effort has focused on the aprotic design, which consists of a lithium metal anode, a liquid organic electrolyte, and a porous carbon cathode. Electrolytes can be made of any organic capable of solvating lithium salts (LiPF
, LiAsF
, LiN(SO
, and LiSO
), but have typically consisted of carbonates, ethers and esters.[15] The carbon cathode is usually made of a high surface area carbon material with a nanosized metal oxide catalyst (commonly MnO
or Mn
). A major advantage is the spontaneous formation of a barrier between the anode and electrolyte (much like the barrier formed between electrolyte and carbon-lithium anodes in conventional Li-ion batteries) that protects the lithium metal from further reaction with the electrolyte. Although rechargeable,[9] its drawback is that the Li
produced at the cathode is generally insoluble in the organic electrolyte, leading to build up along the cathode/electrolyte interface. This makes cathodes in aprotic batteries prone to clogging and volume expansion which reduces conductivity and degrades battery performance over time.[4][19] [28] Another issue is that organic electrolytes are flammable and can rupture and ignite.[5]

In 2012, researchers announced that a dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte and gold nanoparticles as the cathode achieved 100 charge cycles with 5% capacity loss.[29]

Schematic of aqueous type Li-Air battery design


The aqueous Li-air battery consists of a lithium metal anode, an aqueous electrolyte and a porous carbon cathode. The aqueous electrolyte combines lithium salts dissolved in water. It avoids the issue of cathode clogging because the reaction products are water soluble.[4] The aqueous design has a higher practical discharge potential than its aprotic counterpart. However, lithium metal reacts violently with water and thus the aqueous design requires a solid electrolyte interface between the lithium and electrolyte. Commonly, a lithium-conducting ceramic or glass is used, but conductivities are generally low (on the order of 10−3 S/cm at ambient temperatures).[19]

Schematic of a mixed aqueous-aprotic type Li-Air battery design

Mixed aqueous/aprotic[edit]

The aqueous/aprotic or mixed Li-air battery design attempts to unite advantages of the aprotic and aqueous battery designs. The common feature of hybrid designs is a two-part (one part aqueous and one part aprotic) electrolyte connected by a lithium-conducting membrane. The lithium metal anode abuts the aprotic side of the electrolyte while the porous cathode is in contact with the aqueous side. A lithium-conducting ceramic is typically employed as the membrane joining the two electrolytes.[4][9]

Schematic of solid-state type Li-Air battery design

Solid state[edit]

The solid-state battery design is attractive from a safety standpoint, eliminating the possibility of rupture and ignition.[5] Current solid-state Li-air batteries use a lithium anode, a ceramic, glass, or glass-ceramic electrolyte, and a porous carbon cathode. The anode and cathode are typically separated from the electrolyte by polymer-ceramic composites that enhance charge transfer at the anode and electrochemically couple the cathode to the electrolyte. The polymer-ceramic composites serve to reduce overall impedance. The main drawback of the solid-state battery design is the low conductivity of most glass-ceramic electrolytes. The ionic conductivity of current lithium fast ion conductors is still lower than liquid electrolyte alternatives.[8]


As of 2013 many challenges confront designers of Li-air batteries, limiting them to the laboratory.


Most of the current limitations in Li-air battery development are at the cathode, which is also the source of its potential advantages. Incomplete discharge due to blockage of the porous carbon cathode with discharge product such as lithium peroxide (in aprotic designs) is the most serious.

The effect of pore size and pore size distribution is still poorly understood.[7]

Catalysts have shown promise in creating preferential nucleation of Li
over Li
, which is irreversible with respect to lithium.[30]

Atmospheric oxygen must be present at the cathode, but contaminants such as water vapor can damage it.[2]


The main challenge in anode development is preventing the anode from reacting with the electrolyte. Alternatives include new electrolyte materials or redesigning the interface between electrolyte and anode.

Dendritic lithium deposits can decrease energy capacity or trigger a short circuit.


In current cell designs, the charge overpotential is much higher than the discharge overpotential. Significant charge overpotential indicates the presence of secondary reactions.[31] As a result, electrical efficiency is only around 65%.[7]

Catalysts such as MnO
, Co, Pt, and Au can potentially reduce the overpotentials, but the effect is poorly understood.[30] Several catalysts have been used to improve cathode performance, notably MnO
. The mechanism of improvement is unknown, but may alter the structure of the oxide deposits.[32][33]

Significant drops in cell capacity with increasing discharge rates are another issue. The decrease in cell capacity is attributed to kinetic charge transfer limitations.[7] Since the anodic reaction occurs very quickly, the charge transfer limitations are thought to occur at the cathode.


Long term battery operation requires chemical stability of all the components of the cell. Current cell designs show poor resistance to oxidation by reaction products and intermediates. Many aqueous electrolytes are volatile and can evaporate over time.[7]


The primary application for Li-air battery development is automotive power supplies. The high specific energy and volumetric energy densities required for next-generation are the prime motivation for this design. Secondarily, Li-air batteries are attractive for any application where weight is a primary concern, such as in mobile devices.[34]

See also[edit]


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