Oxygen-Permeable Membrane for Lithium Air Batteries

Membrane Technology and Research Inc. (MTR) proposes to develop oxygen-permeable and organic-rejecting membranes for use as a sealing layer on the cathode of lithium/air batteries. Thin, stable membranes that allow oxygen in air to transport into the cathode, but prevent organic solvents found in batteries from leaking to the environment are required to realize the considerable potential of lithium/air batteries. We believe composite membranes fabricated from perfluorinated polymers are the ideal choice for this application because of their unrivaled chemical stability, high oxygen permeance, and excellent organic solvent barrier properties. In the Phase I program the properties of perfluorinated composite membranes in the presence of organic solvents found in lithium/air batteries will be measured. This data will be used to select optimized membranes for scale-up and incorporation into prototype lithium/air batteries in Phase II.