A large-capacity Li-air battery with a novel structure was developed by Zhou Haoshen of AIST. Li-air batteries which ,in theory, should have a larger capacity than Li-ion batteries and are being touted as the next-generation large-capacity battery. The newly developed battery uses organic electrolyte for the negative electrode (metallic lithium) side and water-based electrolyte for the positive electrode (air) side. And the two electrodes are separated by a solid electrolyte to prevent mixing of the electrolytes. This technology is very promising for automotive batteries. If aqueous cathode electrolytes can be replaced at automobile service stations and anode metallic lithium is supplied in the form of a cassette, cars can be driven continuously without the need to wait for them to be charged.More at Tech-On
