Lithium-Air Batteries: Performance Interplays with Instability Factors

Lithium-air batteries are considered to be promising electrochemical storage devices, due to their high specific energy density. However, instability limits their cyclic performance and rate capacity and also leads to a high overpotential; lithium-air batteries are typically characterized by capacity degradation and short cycle life. Such challenges prevent lithium-air batteries from entering and competing in the battery market. Electrodes, organic solvents, the interface between electrolyte and cathode, and ambient conditions have all been demonstrated to impact substantially the stability of the lithium-air battery. In this Minireview, we focus on electrode and electrolyte decomposition, side reactions, and physical mass transport in aprotic lithium-air batteries, as well as other types of lithium-air batteries, and aim to understand comprehensively their performance and association with instability factors.