Aqueous and nonaqueous lithium-air batteries enabled by water-stable lithium metal electrodes

The extremely high theoretical energy density of the lithium-oxygen couple makes it very attractive for next-generation battery development. However, there are a number of challenging technical hurdles that must be addressed for Li-Air batteries to become a commercial reality. In this article, we demonstrate how the invention of water-stable, solid electrolyte-protected lithium electrodes solves many of these issues and paves the way for the development of aqueous and nonaqueous Li-Air batteries with unprecedented energy densities. We also show data for fully packaged Li-Air cells that achieve more than 800 Wh/kg.     

Electrochemical Intercalation of Lithium into Carbon: A Relaxation Study

Basic kinetic parameters of electrochemical intercalation of lithium into thin carbon films are determined by relaxation methods of current and potential steps. The overall electrode polarization is theoretically and experimentally divided into kinetic and diffusion constituents. The former is connected with the hindered ion transfer in a surface solid-electrolyte layer. The latter is due to the slow diffusion of lithium inside the carbon matrix. Concentration dependences of parameters of a solid-electrolyte layer and those of the diffusion coefficient for lithium in carbon are determined at lithium concentrations in the electrode varied from 2 to 16 M. The kinetic current is dependent on polarization in the interval 0.01 to 2.5 V, the dependence being identical to that for a lithium electrode.     

Impedance spectroscopy of lithium-tin film electrodes

A method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to study the reversible lithium intercalation from nonaqueous electrolyte into tin films with the thickness of 0.1–1 μm. The impedance spectra of lithium-tin (Li _x Sn) electrodes have a complicated shape depending on the electrode state and prehistory; they reflect the occurrence of several consecutive and parallel processes, including the lithium migration, diffusion, and accumulation. The formation of a solid-electrolyte layer on the surface at Li intercalation into Sn is observed. Equivalent circuits are proposed that adequately model the experimental data on the Li _x Sn electrodes both freshly prepared and after prolonged cycling. Problems associated with the choice of equivalent circuits and determination of their parameters, the accuracy of the diffusion coefficient determination, the trends in the parameters’ variation with electrode potential (composition) are discussed.     

Electrochemical insertion of lithium in thin tin films

The behavior of model electrodes made of lithiated thin films of tin during their cycling is studied. The electrodes show high values of useful specific capacity for the extension of several tens of operation cycles. Dependences of the diffusion coefficient for lithium into tin on the initial electrode potential, temperature, and direction of the electrode process are determined by a chronopotentiometric method. The dependences have a complex character, which is connected with the phase composition of the lithium-tin alloy.     

Lithium Intercalation into Titanium Dioxide Films from a Propylene Carbonate Solution

Intercalation of lithium from an LiClO₄ propylene carbonate solution into thin-film TiO₂ (rutile) electrodes produced by thermal oxidation of a titanium substrate are studied using cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurements at 0.01 to 10⁵ Hz. An equivalent circuit adequately modeling the impedance spectra of TiO₂- and Li _x TiO₂ electrodes throughout the frequency range studied is proposed. The electrochemical characteristics of film electrodes, the reversibility of intercalation-deintercalation process, the effect of surface passivation on the lithium transfer rate, and the dependence of electric, kinetic, and diffusion parameters on the electrode potential (composition) are discussed. The diffusion coefficient of lithium in Li _x TiO₂ is 10^–12 cm²/s, as estimated by the impedance method.