Argonne National Laboratory

Research Highlight | Center for Nanoscale Materials

Solid-State Lithium-Air Cell Surpasses 1000 Cycles
In a paper published in Science, scientists report that a lithium-air test cell based on Li2O formation achieved 1000 cycles at room temperature.
(A and B) SEM images of pristine and discharged cathode; blue arrows show the discharge products deposited in the valleys and red arrows show pores for air flow. (C) Raman microscope optical image of zone where Raman maps shown in (D) to (F) collected. (D) Spatially resolved Raman mapping results of Mo3P on cathode surface. (E) Li2O on cathode surface. (F) Li2O2 on cathode surface. (G and H) TEM images of Mo3P nanoparticle from discharged cathode. (I) Diagram of discharge products as a function of time based on Raman spectra intensities.

Scientific Achievement

A lithium-air battery based on Li2O formation was designed and tested in cells for 1000 cycles at room temperature. The main new component is a solid electrolyte based on Li10GeP2S12 nanoparticles embedded in a modified polyethylene oxide polymer matrix.

Significance and Impact

Operating with oxygen supplied by the air, this lithium –air battery can theoretically deliver an energy density comparable to that of gasoline. This is four times the density of common lithium-ion batteries. This newer safer battery can provide a longer driving range that could one day power cars, airplanes, and trucks.

Research Details

  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the discharged cathode product indicated some Mo3P nanoparticles with amorphous film (10 to 20 nm thick), presumably the LiO2/Li2O2/Li2O observed by the Raman mapping.

Work was performed in part at the Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOE Office of Science user facility.

DOI: 10.1126/science.abq1347

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About Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials
The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOE’s Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://​sci​ence​.osti​.gov/​U​s​e​r​-​F​a​c​i​l​i​t​i​e​s​/​U​s​e​r​-​F​a​c​i​l​i​t​i​e​s​-​a​t​-​a​-​G​lance.

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