A worker moves crates for batteries on an assembly line at the A123 Systems lithium ion automotive battery manufacturing plant... but maybe someday will move on to lithium-oxygen? (credit: Getty Images)
Battery research is a fraught area to report on. In the lab, researchers manage to show something spectacular, like high current density or excellent recharge characteristics. But the part where the battery catches fire and destroys the lab is left out when the story makes the popular press. I am guilty of this myself, and I'm about to do it again. (Not really.)
Lithium-oxygen batteries are very promising, but most current iterations manage to destroy themselves after a few charge/discharge cycles. A recent publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society shows some progress in overcoming the problems associated with lithium-oxygen batteries.
Why lithium-oxygen?
We all love our lithium ion batteries. Even though they are the best that we have, they still suck pretty hard. To put it in perspective, lithium ion batteries top out at about 200mAh/g, so you need a very heavy battery to get much energy. Lithium-oxygen, on the other hand, promises 1675mAh/g, a very respectable energy density.
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