Lithium Conducting Ceramic Membrane Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

New nano-structured electrodes and a novel lithium-ion conducting solid ceramic electrolyte that can potentially double the energy density of the existing battery systems is proposed. The solid 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 objective of Phase I and Phase II effort is to develop LiSICON 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- LiSICON electrolyte - oxygen (or V2O5) cathode" battery can potentially meet the high energy requirement of military equipment and vehicles.