en.Wedoany.com Reported - US startup Air Energy is advancing pilot-scale production of solid-state lithium-air batteries, aiming to power large electric aircraft. The company's rechargeable solid-state lithium-air batteries are designed to extend the flight time of drones and unlock new mission capabilities for autonomous systems.
Lithium-air batteries are a high-energy-density storage technology that uses oxygen as a key component of rechargeable lithium batteries, promising significant weight reduction and energy density far exceeding that of conventional lithium-ion technology. However, the technology has long faced engineering challenges. Support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sustained related research in the early 21st century.
In 2013, DOE's Argonne National Laboratory identified a critical issue. Di-Jia (D.J.) Liu, an electrochemist at the lab, noted that at the time, nearly all literature on lithium-air batteries focused on cathode chemistry while assuming the anode was fully reversible. Using the lab's Advanced Photon Source for real-time observation, the team discovered that lithium hydroxide formed on the anode during operation, leading to performance degradation. This study revealed the complex challenges facing the technology.
In 2023, Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with the Illinois Institute of Technology, introduced a lithium-air battery for electric passenger vehicles, electric aircraft, and long-haul trucks. The new battery replaces traditional liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes, and is expected to achieve four times the energy density of typical lithium-ion batteries. The solid electrolyte developed by the team consists of a ceramic polymer material made from nanoparticles of inexpensive elements, capable of achieving a four-electron reaction using ambient oxygen at room temperature without the need for storage tanks.
In 2024, the DOE continued funding lithium-air projects and incorporated the collaboration into the JOULES 1K funding program, requiring funded projects to achieve at least 1000 Wh/kg and 1000 Wh/L at end-of-life and system levels. The program also focuses on applications such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, drones, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).
With DOE backing, Air Energy recently completed an oversubscribed seed funding round. The round was led by Resolute Venture Partners, with participation from Illinois INVENT, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Evergreen Climate Innovations, Leslie Ventures, LLC, and strategic angel investors. According to Air Energy, the round was initiated by Leslie Ventures, led by Veritas Technologies founder and former CEO Mark Leslie, under whose chairmanship the company reached a value of $64 billion. The proceeds will be used to hire more engineers and optimize manufacturing processes to advance pilot-scale production.
