Lithium–Air Batteries

Research and Development Theme 3: Lithium–Air Batteries

To realize advanced aerial platforms such as drones and HAPS (High-Altitude Platform Stations), the development of rechargeable batteries with significantly higher energy densities than current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is urgently required.

Lithium–air batteries (LABs), possessing the highest theoretical gravimetric energy density among all secondary batteries, are often referred to as the “ultimate next-generation rechargeable battery.” In LABs, charge–discharge reactions proceed at the cathode using oxygen from the ambient air as the active material. However, due to an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the charge–discharge reactions, clear design guidelines for achieving the benchmark gravimetric energy density of 500 Wh/kg remain elusive.

In response to this situation, the present study aims to establish materials and structural design principles that will enable the practical implementation of LABs, through two integrated approaches: model-based development and advanced analytical technique development.