Lithium air battery

A lithium-air battery is a type of rechargeable battery that utilizes lithium as the anode and oxygen from the air as the cathode. The core concept behind this technology is the electrochemical reaction between lithium ions and oxygen, which theoretically allows for a much higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. This high energy density could lead to lighter batteries with a longer range for applications such as electric vehicles.

During discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode, where they react with oxygen to form lithium peroxide or other lithium oxides. Upon charging, this process is reversed, and lithium is restored to the anode. Lithium-air batteries are appealing for their potential to offer significant advantages in energy storage capacity, but they also face challenges, including issues with stability, efficiency, and the management of byproducts, limiting their commercial viability.