Lithium Conducting Ceramic Membrane Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

New nano-structured electrodes and a novel lithium-ion conducting solid ceramic electrolyte (membrane) that can potentially double the energy density of the existing battery systems is proposed. This battery technology based on solid ceramic electrolyte offers excellent chemical stability to corrosive lithium metal and the conductivity approaches 10-2 S/cm and 10-4 S/cm respectively in aqueous and organic electrolytes respectively. The materials used in the proposed battery are abundant, inexpensive and environmentally benign. The combined objectives of Phase I and Phase II effort is to develop Lithium ion conducting electrolyte and integrate with a metallic Li anode and a high capacity, cathode material based on either (a) oxygen from air or (b) nano-structured V2O5 to realize high energy density batteries. The proposed “lithium anode– Li+ conductor electrolyte – oxygen (or V2O5) cathode” battery can potentially meet the high energy requirement of military equipment and vehicles. High energy density primary and secondary batteries will be developed by using the Li/Air and Li/V2O5 configuration operating between ambient to 70oC. Proposed batteries can potentially deliver energy densities exceeding 500 Wh/kg at voltages between 2.4 and 3.0 V potentially with high rate, shelf life, high degree of safety, and with simple packaging.