| Summary | The objective of this project was to develop innovative materials and technologies for Li-air battery with improved performance in terms of life cycle and specific capacity. In order to achieve this objective, different activities have been designed for innovation study of the anode materials in WP1, cathode materials in WP2, electrolyte in WP3, simulation and modelling in WP4, assembly of battery cells in WP5, life cycle assessment in WP6. Low cost synthesis of the cathode materials starting from easily available compounds which should also satisfy easy conductivity of Li ions have been employed and studied. Different techniques such as hydrothermal, flame spray pyrolysis etc. Several different cathodic materials were produced and have been used in prototype cells and compared. In particular, materials with different porosity, electronic conductivity, different catalyst and catalysts loading have been produced and tested both as self-standing electrodes and as inks on conductive supports. Electrolyte mixture was optimized in term of performance and of environmental impact. The optimized solution and results generated from WP1-WP3 were simulated through WP4, and employed for the assembly and optimization of complete cell (WP5), as well as for the implementation of life cycle assessment (WP6). Different prototypes of cells were assembled by selecting the best performing components from every work package, namely the cathode, the electrolyte and the air dehydration membrane. The assembled prototypes delivered a capacity as high as 1268 mAh/g. Afterwards, different prototypes were assembled in coin and pouch cell configurations. The pouch cell, comprising the Pd/CNF based cathode, a blended electrolyte and the oxygen selective membrane was tested in ambient air at 17% RH. Such cell performed over 150 cycles at 100% columbic efficiency, reaching even overcoming the objectives proposed in the STABLE project. |
