Lithium-air batteries could pack 10 times the energy

PolyPlus, a Berkeley, Calif.-based company has developed single-use lithium metal-air batteries for the government. Expected to hit the market in a few years, the company also claims to have rechargeable batteries based on the same lithium metal-air technology in the early stages of development.

With an energy density approaching that of a fuel cell, but with the less volatile characteristics of a battery, founder and chief technical officer Steven Visco has described lithium-metal as "the holy-grail battery material."  Indeed, the theoretic energy density stands at more than 5,000 watt-hours per kilogram, which is 10 times that of current lithium-ion batteries.

What has prevented the creation of batteries using the lithium metal as an electrode is the fact that the material reacts violently when in contact with water - and there's always water in the air. Due to the breakthrough work, this is no longer an issue. I'll be looking forward to commercial rechargeable batteries; certainly, I don't mind seeing my laptop run for up to 10 times as long!

For more:
- check out this article from Technology Review

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