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Graphene Moisture-Resistive Membrane Cathode for Li-Air Battery in Ambient Conditions
Technology Benefits
Hydrophobic, oxygen selective membrane3D interconnected cavernous structure shows excellent and stable electron transportGraphene produced via a scalable solution processHigh columbic efficiencyHigh cycle lifeLow charging overpotentialCan be performed in air and ambient conditionsOver 20 times more efficient than commercially available products (when used as a non-rechargeable battery)
Technology Application
Bulk energy storage or electronic power source for hybrid or electric vehiclesAlternatives to lithium-ion batteries for both one-time use and rechargeable batteriesBulk storage for energy grid
Detailed Technology Description
UCLA researchers have developed a graphene moisture-resistive membrane cathode that functions as a water-resistive and catalytically effective cathode in Li-air system under ambient operating conditions. The graphene cathode offers simplified design, high capacitance, and long cycle life.
Others
State Of Development
A successful coin cell working prototype has been developed and tested in lab.
Background
Metal-air batteries are an attractive candidate for energy storage because they offer a simplified cell design and up to 15 times the energy density compared to current state of the art lithium batteries. Metal-air batteries consist of an exposed porous carbon electrode – the air cathode, which traps oxygen gas – separated from the metal anode by an electrolyte. Many metals have been found appropriate for use as an anode, including Ca, Al, Fe, Cd, Zn and Li. Lithium metal is an attractive choice for the anode because of its large specific energy - a measure of the amount of energy a battery can store for a given weight - with respect to air. However, Li-air batteries have not been widely adopted due to lithium’s high reactivity with moisture under operating conditions. The main challenge in cathode development is to ensure sufficient oxygen diffusion while retarding moisture ingression, and to provide a conductive network with sufficient space for holding the insulating discharging materials. A porous graphene membrane offers high surface area, highly porous structure and oxygen selectivity, and is demonstrated to function as a highly effective air-cathode for Li-air batteries. It would greatly advance the commercial adoption of Li-air batteries.
