A Comprehensive Review on the Development of Solid-State Metal–Air Batteries Operated on Oxide-Ion Chemistry

摘要

The recently developed solid oxide metal-air redox battery (SOMARB) operating on oxide-ion chemistry represents an emerging and promising energy storage technology, which is well suited for managing grid stability and efficiently harvesting renewable energy. Compared to widely reported metal-air batteries operating on liquid-phase alkali-ion or alkaline chemistries, the SOMARB uniquely features a direct reduction of the high concentration of O-2 molecules in the gas phase without invoking the detrimental formation of a diffusion-blocking oxide phase on the surface of the oxygen electrode. A typical SOMARB is composed of a reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) and an energy storage unit (ESU), which is capable of storing a high capacity of energy at high power without safety concerns. In this article, the SOMARB concept birth and development are reviewed and discussed with the fundamental differences separating it from other types of metal-air batteries, along with the challenges and opportunities around commercialization. Particular focus is placed on the functional materials tailored for ESU and RSOC applications, including recent experimental and computational efforts to boost the redox activity of Fe-based ESU materials and the performance of intermediate temperature RSOCs. Finally, candid opinions are offered on the challenges and opportunities facing the future development of SOMARBs toward large-scale energy storage applications.