The effect of alkalinity and temperature on the performance of lithium-air fuel cell with hybrid electrolytes

A lithium-air fuel cell combined an air cathode in aqueous electrolyte with a metallic lithium anode in organic electrolyte can continuously reduce O2 to provide capacity. Herein, the performance of this hybrid electrolyte based lithium-air fuel cell under the mixed control of alkalinity and temperature have been investigated by means of galvanistatic measurement and the analysis of electrochemical impedance spectra. Electromotive force and inner resistance of the cell decrease with the increase of LiOH concentration in aqueous electrolyte. The values ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 M could be the suitable parameters for the LiOH concentration of aqueous electrolyte. Environment temperature exhibited a significant influence on the performance of lithium-air fuel cell. The lithium-air fuel cell can provide a larger power at elevated temperature due to the decrease of all resistance of elements.

► The operating voltage of the lithium-air fuel cell has a linear decrease with the growth of applied current densities, which is mainly due to the ohmic limitation.
► The electromotive force and inner resistance of the cell decrease with the increase of LiOH concentration in aqueous electrolyte.
► Concentration ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 M is considered as the suitable parameters for the LiOH aqueous electrolyte.
► The Li-air fuel cell can provide a larger power at elevated temperature due to the decrease of all resistance of elements.