Abstract
Synthesis and characterization of a tri-layered solid electrolyte and oxygen permeable solid air cathode for lithium-air battery cells were carried out in this investigation. Detailed fabrication procedures for solid electrolyte, air cathode and real-world lithium-air battery cell are described. Materials characterizations were performed through FTIR and TGA measurement. Based on the experimental four-probe conductivity measurement, it was found that the tri-layered solid electrolyte has a very high conductivity at room temperature, 23。C, and it can be reached up to 6 times higher at 100。C. Fabrication of real-world lithium-air button cells was performed using the synthesized tri-layered solid electrolyte, an oxygen permeable air cathode, and a metallic lithium anode. The lithium-air button cells were tested under dry air with 0.1 mA - 0.2 mA discharge/ charge current at elevated temperatures. Experimental results showed that the lithium-air cell performance is very sensitive to the oxygen concentration in the air cathode. The experimental results also revealed that the cell resistance was very large at room temperature but decreased rapidly with increasing temperatures. It was found that the cell resistance was the prime cause to show any significant discharge capacity at room temperature. Experimental results suggested that the lack of robust interfacial contact among solid electrolyte, air cathode and lithium metal anode were the primary factors for the cell’s high internal resistances. It was also found that once the cell internal resistance issues were resolved, the discharge curve of the battery cell was much smoother and the cell was able to discharge at above 2.0 V for up to 40 hours. It indicated that in order to have better performing lithium-air battery cell, interfacial contact resistances issue must have to be resolved very efficiently.
Highlights
Emission from conventional fossil fuel based combustion engine vehicles has prompted introduction of electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) in the transportation sector in order to reduce greenhouse-gas emission and environmental pollution [1] [2]
Characterization of solid electrolyte and air cathode materials were performed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) measurement
Real-world lithium-air button cells were fabricated utilizing tri-layered solid electrolyte based on polymer ceramic (PC) (Li2O)/Lithium Aluminum Germanium Phosphonate (LAGP)/PC(BN), a high performance air cathode based on Ni/C/LAGP, and a lithium metal anode
Summary
Emission from conventional fossil fuel based combustion engine vehicles has prompted introduction of electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) in the transportation sector in order to reduce greenhouse-gas emission and environmental pollution [1] [2]. Even though it seems that the chemical reaction mechanism in the Li-air battery cell is simple but still the Li-air battery system encounters several issues those must need to be resolved such as (i) very low stability of the conventional electrolytes against Li/O2 reaction products, (ii) the high cell polarization with consequent low energy efficiency and (ii) the short cycle life [13] [14]. The high performance electrolyte and air cathode must ensure a safe use of the high-energy lithium metal, eliminate flammability risks and associated safety issues due to short-circuit, possible dendrite formation and consequent thermal runaway [15] [16]. A real-world lithium-air battery cell is fabricated employing developed three layered solid electrolyte, solid metallic lithium anode and high performance oxygen permeable solid air cathode. The solid configuration of the entire lithium-air battery cell and the absence of volatile and flammable components in the developed battery cell are expected to strongly limit or eliminate possible safety issues
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