Aqueous Lithium--Air Batteries with High Power Density at Room Temperature under Air Atmosphere

Rechargeable batteries with higher energy and power density exceeding the performance of the currently available lithium-ion batteries are suitable for application as the power source in electric vehicles (EVs). Aqueous lithium-air batteries are candidates for various EV applications due to their high energy density of 1910 Wh kg-1. The present study reports a rechargeable aqueous lithium-air battery with high power density at room temperature. The battery cell comprised a lithium anode, a non-aqueous anode electrolyte, a water-stable lithium-ion-conducting NASICON type separator, an aqueous catholyte, and an air electrode. The non-aqueous electrolyte served as an interlayer between the lithium anode and the solid electrolyte because the solid electrolyte in contact with lithium was unstable. The mixed separator comprised a Kimwipe paper and a Celgard polypropylene membrane for the interlayer electrolyte, which was used for preventing the formation of lithium dendrites at a high current density. The proposed aqueous lithium-air battery was successfully cycled at 2 mA cm-2 for 6 h at room temperature under an air atmosphere.