Beyond Lithium-ion: High Energy Density Batteries based on Lithium Metal Electrodes Stable to Aggressive Media (Air, Water, Polysulftdes)

摘要

Water-stable lithium metal electrodes enable the development of lithium/air and lithium/seawater batteries with unsurpassed energy densities. Stable performance of these battery chemistries is made possible through the use of a "protected lithium electrode" (PLE) consisting of lithium metal encapsulated by interlayer-protected solid electrolyte membranes. The PLE exhibits the thermodynamic Li/Li~+ electrode potential when immersed in aqueous electrolyte and can be discharged at close to 100% coulometric efficiency. The chemical stability of the PLE significantly expands the choice of electrolytes for lithium metal batteries and allows for the construction of aqueous batteries with high operating voltage (～3V) and specific energy in excess of 1000 Wh/kg.