During the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in March 2014, a recent study was presented which acquired support from scientists and experts – the Lithium-Air Battery. This type of battery aims to substitute the lithium-ion battery that is currently being used on electric vehicles. Additionally, this could provide solution to the existing problem with the performance of electric vehicles.
“Lithium-air batteries are lightweight and deliver a large amount of electric energy,” said Nobuyuki Imanishi, Ph.D. “Many people expect them to one day be used in electric vehicles.”
Understanding How Lithium-Air Battery Works
Lithium-Air battery has higher theoretical energy density compared with those conventional types such as li-ion, NiHM, lead-acid and so on, therefore could probably a good answer to providing electric vehicles additional range.
Lithium-air battery is far better compared to lithium-ion because of its exceptional distinctiveness – rather than using the conventional compounds, lithium-air uses oxygen from the air to react with the lithium-based anode through the carbon-based cathode. There are also nanowires within which will be used as one of the electrodes.
Lithium-air battery is lighter because of its components, making it a good option to be used in electric vehicles. Its performance is also better because it triples the range electric vehicle could travel.
The Lithium-Air battery’s promises are certainly worth watching out for, but it still needs additional alterations to ensure that it really be able to provide safety to its user. It must also be efficient so that it will be able to surpass what conventional batteries could do.
The development of Lithium-Air is not stopping. Experts continuously find ways to make it work.
Watch out for the next article where I am going to discuss four types of the Lithium-Air battery and how it will be beneficial in the industry.
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