Recently, the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced significant progress in the development of key materials and battery systems for lithium-air batteries. According to Huageng, the limited energy density of current batteries has been a major bottleneck for the advancement of electric vehicles. Lithium-air batteries, with their theoretical specific energy being one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, are considered the most promising candidates to replace gasoline-powered engines. As a result, they have become a major focus in the development of next-generation electric vehicles.
However, existing lithium-air batteries face several critical challenges, including electrolyte instability and poor performance of air electrodes. These issues lead to low energy conversion efficiency, poor rate capability, and short cycle life, which hinder their practical application. To address these problems, the research team led by Professor Zhang Xinbo at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made important breakthroughs in this field.
The team successfully extended the cycle life of lithium-air batteries by up to 500 times compared to previous studies. They achieved this by suppressing electrolyte decomposition, optimizing the three-phase interface of the air electrode (solid, liquid, gas), and improving the overall battery structure. These findings were published in prestigious journals such as Advanced Functional Materials and Chemical Communications in 2012.
A major issue in current lithium-air batteries is the decomposition of the electrolyte during the reaction, leading to irreversible byproducts and reduced battery life. To tackle this, the team introduced sulfoxide (DMSO) and sulfone (TMS) for the first time in lithium-air batteries. This approach effectively promoted the formation of reversible lithium peroxide (Liâ‚‚Oâ‚‚), while minimizing side reactions. Through in-depth analysis of the air electrode's role, the researchers found that low catalytic efficiency, improper pore structure, and poor conductivity were key limitations affecting battery performance.
In response, the team proposed the concept of a graphene-integrated air electrode and successfully fabricated a three-dimensional porous graphene structure on a nickel foam matrix. The high conductivity of nickel foam combined with the optimized porosity of graphene significantly enhanced the battery’s rate performance. Additionally, by utilizing rare-earth perovskite-type composite oxides, the team improved the electrocatalytic activity, reducing the charge/discharge overpotential and greatly enhancing energy efficiency and performance.
Building on these achievements, the team also designed and optimized the lithium-air battery system for real-world applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. They developed practical lithium-air battery packs with independent intellectual property rights, bringing the technology one step closer to commercialization.
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