High Performance Air Breathing Flexible Lithium-Air Battery

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O-2) batteries possess the highest theoretical energy density (3500 Wh kg(-1)), which makes them attractive candidates for modern electronics and transportation applications. In this work, an inexpensive, flexible, and wearable Li-O-2 battery based on the bifunctional redox mediator of InBr3, MoS2 cathode catalyst, and Fomblin-based oxygen permeable membrane that enable long-cycle-life operation of the battery in pure oxygen, dry air, and ambient air is designed, fabricated, and tested. The battery operates in ambient air with an open system air-breathing architecture and exhibits excellent cycling up to 240 at the high current density of 1 A g(-1) with a relative humidity of 75%. The electrochemical performance of the battery including deep-discharge capacity, and rate capability remains almost identical after 1000 cycle in a bending fatigue test. This finding opens a new direction for utilizing high performance Li-O-2 batteries for applications in the field of flexible and wearable electronics.