Lithium-Air Technology

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will advance the lithium air battery with improved rate of discharge, capacity, and water repulsion. Specifically the project advances lithium air batteries by focusing on increased oxygen diffusion in the porous carbon electrode by the use of oxygen transport molecules in the electrolyte. Typical problems of metal air batteries are low oxygen diffusion rates and water contamination. By enhancing the electrolyte with oxygen transport molecules and using a non-aqueous proprietary thin film composite polymer electrolyte, the battery system will greatly improve in both of these aspects. The oxygen transport molecules will increase the amount of dissolved oxygen carried by the electrolyte in the porous air cathode. This will increase the rate of discharge and the capacity by distributing the oxygen throughout the pores of the cathode. We propose to increase the oxygen diffusion rate of the cathode structure by investigating different oxygen transport molecules in combination with several electrolyte compositions. Yardney's experience and technologies in the metal-air power sources will be adopted in the design of the new advanced Li-Air battery. Advantages of the proposed lithium air battery include a high energy density, safe design, environmentally friendly components, and increased oxygen diffusion.