TITLE:
Synthesis, Characterization and Performance Evaluation of an Advanced Solid Electrolyte and Air Cathode for Rechargeable Lithium-Air Batteries
AUTHORS:
Susanta K. Das, Jianfang Chai, Salma Rahman, Abhijit Sarkar
KEYWORDS:
Lithium-Air, Solid Electrolyte, Air Cathode, Button Cell, Metallic Lithium
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
11,
2016
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.