Lithium-air oxygen shuttle battery with a ZrO₂-based ion-conducting oxide electrolyte

A lithium-air battery based on the concept of an "oxygen shuttle" with a calcium-stabilized ZrO₂ electrolyte is described. The observed open-circuit voltage and discharge capacity are 1.81 V and 2179 mAh per gram of lithium, respectively, at 1073 K. When considering the transport number of an oxide ion at P O 2 in an anode chamber, the observed open-circuit voltage is reasonable. The internal resistance of the lithium-air battery has been analyzed with complex impedance, and the main internal resistance is anodic overpotential because of the platinum electrode used. After discharge, a much larger diffusion resistance, which may suggest surface oxidation of lithium, is observed. However, the observed anodic overpotential is similar to that in a magnesium-air cell reported previously, and much smaller than that of the H₂-air fuel cell.