Lithium-Oxygen Rechargeable.... Someday Not-So-Soon?

delus

Newly Enlightened
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Sep 22, 2013
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Following previous work from Cambridge University, the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratories has announced a breakthrough in the development of Lithium-Oxygen battery chemistry.
http://www.anl.gov/articles/stable-superoxide-opens-door-new-class-batteries
They have demonstrated the ability to stabilize crystalline lithium-superoxide, while avoiding lithium peroxide, which could usher in an entirely new class of batteries.
"The key advantage of a battery based on superoxide, according to the two researchers, is that it enables what is known as a "closed system," which stands in contrast to open systems that require a constant intake of oxygen from the environment. This makes closed system batteries far safer and more efficient.
"This discovery really opens a pathway for the potential development of a new kind of battery," said Curtiss. "Although a lot more research is needed, the cycle life of the battery is what we were looking for.""

Lithium-Air chemistry has been estimated to potentially contain 5-to-15 times the energy density of Lithium-Ion, partly because Lithium-Air consumes Oxygen from the air.
This "closed system" will not have that advantage, so it's energy density will probably be at the low end of the range.
Five times the capacity of a Lithium-Ion, that really is a breakthrough, approaching half of gasoline's.
 

Lynx_Arc

Flashaholic
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Oct 1, 2004
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Tulsa,OK
We have seen all sorts of battery "breakthroughs" in the last 10 years or so that never make it to market. I think often these "better" batteries are not even close to being competitive in price such that even if they are 5 times the capacity if they cost 20 times as much very few people will ever want to buy them.

In other words... don't hold your breath until we see a battery manufacturer get on board.
 
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