A new type rechargeable lithium battery based on a Cu-cathode

In present work, we report a new type rechargeable lithium battery, in which a Cu-cathode in aqueous electrolyte and a Li-anode in non-aqueous electrolyte are united together by a lithium super-ionic conductor glass film (LISICON) through which only lithium-ions can pass. During the charge–discharge process, combining with the dissolution–deposition of metallic Cu (or Li) electrode, lithium ions transfer between aqueous electrolyte solution and non-aqueous electrolyte solution. In Li–Cu system, for the first time, the dissolution/deposition process of metallic Cu was used as cathode reaction to replace the Li-insertion/extraction reaction within conventional lithium-ion battery. The Cu-cathode is renewable, and displays a high capacity. The concept of Li–Cu system may provide a new direction for future lithium batteries study.