High‐Performance Lithium–Air Battery with a Coaxial‐Fiber Architecture

Abstract

The lithium–air battery has been proposed as the next‐generation energy‐storage device with a much higher energy density compared with the conventional lithium‐ion battery. However, lithium–air batteries currently suffer enormous problems including parasitic reactions, low recyclability in air, degradation, and leakage of liquid electrolyte. Besides, they are designed into a rigid bulk structure that cannot meet the flexible requirement in the modern electronics. Herein, for the first time, a new family of fiber‐shaped lithium–air batteries with high electrochemical performances and flexibility has been developed. The battery exhibited a discharge capacity of 12 470 mAh g−1 and could stably work for 100 cycles in air; its electrochemical performances were well maintained under bending and after bending. It was also wearable and formed flexible power textiles for various electronic devices.

Advances in Flexible and Wearable Energy‐Storage Textiles

“…When integrated onto clothes, the flexible Li–air battery operated normally under human‐body motions with uninfluenced performance, suggesting great potential in enabling practical wearable devices (Figure b). Peng's group developed a coaxial fiber‐shaped Li–air battery, of which the aligned CNTs in the cathode could facilitate air diffusion and electron conduction; meanwhile, the polymer gel electrolyte could prevent air diffusion and alleviate lithium corrosion (Figure c). This fiber‐shaped Li–air battery exhibited high flexibility, and its discharge curves could be very well maintained under increasing bending angles, even under a dynamic bending and releasing process at a 10° s −1 .…”

“…c) Schematic of the fabrication and structural characterization of a fiber‐shaped Li–air battery. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2016, Wiley‐VCH.…”

The Recent Advance in Fiber‐Shaped Energy Storage Devices

“…[63] Interestingly, the 1D battery configuration allows air to diffuse in all directions around compared with the planar counterpart of which air only diffuse in one direction. [63] Interestingly, the 1D battery configuration allows air to diffuse in all directions around compared with the planar counterpart of which air only diffuse in one direction.…”

“…[63] Interestingly, the 1D battery configuration allows air to diffuse in all directions around compared with the planar counterpart of which air only diffuse in one direction. [63] In this coaxial structural design, the gel electrolyte also serves as a protect layer to prevent oxygen diffusing to the lithium anode, restraining parasitic reaction between the lithium anode and oxygen to some extent. [63] In this coaxial structural design, the gel electrolyte also serves as a protect layer to prevent oxygen diffusing to the lithium anode, restraining parasitic reaction between the lithium anode and oxygen to some extent.…”

“…Lithium-air battery Lithium wire coated with gel electrolyte and CNT sheet [63] Coaxial 12 470 mAh g −1 at 1400 mA g −1…”