User:Matmaven/group 1 sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The lithium-air battery [Li-air] is a battery chemistry that uses the oxidation of lithium at the anode and reduction of oxygen at the cathode to induce a current flow. Originally proposed in the 1970’s as a possible power source for electric vehicles, Li-air batteries recaptured scientific interest in the late 2000’s due to advances in materials technology and an increasing demand for environmentally-safe and oil-independent energy sources. Currently, four types of Li-air batteries are being pursued: aprotic[1][2], aqueous[3], solid state[4], and mixed aqueous/aprotic[5].
The major appeal of the Li-air battery is the extremely high energy density, a measure of the amount of energy a battery can store for a given volume, which rivals that of traditional gasoline powered engines. Li-air batteries gain this advantage in energy density by utilizing the oxygen in air, eliminating the need for a Li-air battery to store fuel (oxygen) at the cathode.
The technology is still in its infancy and will require significant funding and research efforts in a variety of fields, however, scientists and industry alike see potential in its development with IBM leading a research effort to develop a Li-air battery capable of driving a commercial vehicle 500 miles on a single charge [6].