Zeolite-based Electrolyte Accelerating the Realization of Solid-state Li-Air Battery

Abstract

Solid-state lithium-air battery represents one of the most promising energy storage systems to simultaneously achieve high energy density, safety, and cost-efficiency. Conventional inorganic solid electrolytes are not suitable for the lithium-air systems due to their spontaneous reactions with lithium and/or air. Meanwhile, the large-scale production of inorganic solid electrolytes at a low cost remains highly challenging to date. Recently, Yu et al. demonstrated that lithium-ion exchanged zeolite X membrane could be employed as the solid electrolyte for lithium-air battery owing to its unique microporous structure and the continuous ion-conduction pathway within a single crystal. Moreover, the lithium-ion exchanged zeolite X offers excellent compatibility with lithium and air and exhibits negligible air permeability. The integrated solidstate lithium-air battery exhibits superior electrochemical stability in ambient air compared to conventional liquid and solid electrolytes. Meanwhile, it offers flexibility, safety and tolerance against abuse. Since zeolites have been widely used in the chemical industry, this work opens up numerous opportunities in energy-related fields. The corresponding research has been published in Nature and can be accessed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03410-9.

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