LITHIUM AIR BATTERY

Abstract

Featuring a lithium-air battery (1A): a plurality of lithium anode compounds (8); and an air electrode (9A), wherein each comprises the plurality of lithium anode compounds (8): a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector (5); two plate-shaped anode layers (15) made of metallic lithium, a lithium-rich alloy or a lithium-rich compound and arranged to sandwich around part of the anode current collector (5), two plate-shaped insulating layers (12) made of lithium-ion conductivity glass-ceramic and arranged to sandwich another part of the anode current collector (5) and the two anode layers (15) together; and a connection (16) which is provided to connect and close outer circumferential areas of the two insulating layers (12), wherein the remainder of the anode current collector (5) between the two insulating layers (12) is exposed to the outside, and the air electrode (9A) comprises: an air electrode layer (13A) containing an electrically conductive material and facing at least one of the two insulating layers (12); and a plate-shaped or strip-shaped air electrode current collector (6) electrically connected to the air electrode layer (13A), characterized by the fact that the air electrode layer (13A) is folded in a zigzag pattern, and each lithium anode assembly (8) of the plurality of lithium anode assemblies (8) is sandwich-like surrounded by planar regions (13b) of the air electrode layer (13A), each of which is located between fold lines (13a) of the air electrode layer (13A).

Description

Background of the invention; Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a lithium-air battery and a lithium anode assembly of the lithium-air battery. Technical background

[0002] In anticipation of the growing popularity of electric vehicles, an air battery with a much higher energy density than a lithium-ion battery is expected to be developed. The air battery uses oxygen in the air as the active material for the cathode.

[0003] Incidentally, a lithium-air battery is known that uses metallic lithium, a lithium-rich alloy, or a lithium-rich compound as the active material for the anode. Focusing on the types of electrolytes, lithium-air batteries are broadly classified into aqueous and non-aqueous electrolyte types. Non-aqueous lithium-air batteries represent a major area of ​​research and development because, with the exception of the air electrode, lithium-ion battery technologies can be used for them.

[0004] On the other hand, research and development is also being conducted on lithium-air batteries with an aqueous electrolyte, albeit on a small scale. Compared to lithium-air batteries with a non-aqueous electrolyte, these batteries offer advantages such as insensitivity to atmospheric moisture and the availability of an inexpensive and non-flammable electrolyte. However, metallic lithium, which is an active anode material, reacts with oxygen and water when it comes into direct contact with them. Therefore, lithium-air batteries with an aqueous electrolyte must be equipped with a protective layer of a polymer electrolyte, a lithium-ion-conducting solid electrolyte, or similar material to protect the metallic lithium from the atmosphere and aqueous solutions.

[0005] Therefore, a lithium-air battery was proposed which is equipped with an anode assembly in which a buffer layer of a polymer electrolyte is formed on a surface of plate-shaped metallic lithium, and a surface of the polymer electrolyte buffer layer is covered with a glass-ceramic that has lithium-ion conductivity and serves as a water-resistant layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2010-192313 A) and Non-Patent Document 1 (“Present Status and Issues for Lithium / Air Battery Using Aqueous Electrolyte” by Yasuo Takeda, Nobuyuki Imanishi, Osamu Yamamoto; GS Yuasa Technical Report, Vol. 7, No. 1, pages 1 to 7 (June 2010)).

[0006] US 2007 / 0037058 A1 discloses metal anode assemblies that have ion-conducting, protective membrane structures and, in conjunction with conformal sealing structures and anode back walls, effectively enclose an active metal anode inside an anode assembly.

[0007] US 2008 / 0102358 A1 discloses a metal anode assembly and various arrangements of seawater or air semi-fuel cells.

[0008] WO 2012 / 061817 A1 discloses an alkali metal air flow battery comprising an electrochemical reaction unit and an electrolyte container.

[0009] The conventional air battery described in Patent Document 1 or Non-Patent Document 1 is tightly enclosed in a container or laminate film, with one surface of a single air electrode directly facing a surface of a single anode array. In such conventional air batteries, if it is necessary to increase the input / output density (output per weight), a number of air batteries with the same configuration are simply used, or one air battery is simply enlarged while its configuration remains unchanged.

[0010] However, simply using multiple air batteries with the same design, or simply enlarging a single air battery while maintaining its basic structure, inefficiently and significantly increases the installation space required for the air battery(ies). Therefore, this approach is unsuitable when the air battery(ies) are installed, for example, in an electric vehicle.

[0011] Furthermore, in the air battery described in the aforementioned non-patent document 1, an anode assembly is enclosed or encapsulated within a gas-barrier laminate film with a three-layer structure consisting of polypropylene (PP), aluminum foil, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition, to ensure lithium-ion conductivity both inside and outside the laminate film, the anode assembly of non-patent document 1 is designed such that openings created in the laminate film are plugged with glass ceramics, which serve as a lithium-ion conductive window material.

[0012] However, it is difficult to bond the polypropylene (PP) of the laminate film and the glass ceramics of the anode composite with an adhesive, resulting in a lack of durability. Additionally, a welding edge of approximately 10 mm is required around the outer circumference of the laminate film to hot-weld it for forming the anode composite. This requirement leads to an expansion of the laminate film's surface area and an increase in the volume of the air battery, which is problematic.

[0013] This means that the conventional air battery is suitable for the purpose of providing an experimental, small-format unit cell, and therefore it is difficult to design a compact, practical cell with improved battery characteristics, especially energy density. Summary of the invention

[0014] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact lithium-air battery that is able to avoid the lithium-air battery becoming extraordinarily larger compared to a conventional air battery, even when the energy density and the input / output density are increased.

[0015] This problem is solved with a lithium-air battery having the features of claim 1.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a lithium anode assembly for the lithium-air battery, which may hereinafter be referred to simply as an anode assembly.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, a lithium-air battery is provided which comprises: a lithium anode assembly; and an air electrode,

[0018] wherein the lithium anode assembly comprises: a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector; two plate-shaped anode layers made of metallic lithium, a lithium-rich alloy, or a lithium-rich compound, arranged such that they sandwich a portion of the anode current collector between them; two plate-shaped insulating layers made of lithium-ion conducting glass-ceramic, arranged such that they sandwich another portion of the anode current collector and the entirety of the two anode layers between them; and a connection designed to join and close outer circumferential regions of the two insulating layers, the remainder of the anode current collector being exposed to the outside between the two insulating layers; and wherein the air electrode comprises: an air electrode layer containing an electrically conductive material and facing at least one of the two insulating layers; and a plate-shaped or strip-shaped air electrode current collector electrically connected to the air electrode layer.

[0019] The air electrode layer is folded in a zigzag pattern, and each of the majority of anode assemblies is sandwiched around planar areas, each of which is located between fold lines of the air electrode layer.

[0020] The following preferred exemplary forms of the above aspect can be provided.

[0021] The lithium-air battery may also include a housing in which the lithium anode assemblies and the air electrodes are arranged, and an electrolyte within the housing is in contact with at least the air electrodes to facilitate lithium-ion conduction between the air electrodes and the anode assemblies. In this arrangement, the housing may be a molded part made of a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable material. Only the anode current collector and the air electrode current collector may be exposed on the outside of the housing.

[0022] It may also be preferred that the anode current collector is made of one of the materials copper, gold, and platinum.

[0023] It may also be preferred that the air electrode current collector is made of one of the materials aluminium, gold and platinum.

[0024] It may also be preferred that the air electrode layer is made of carbon fabric or carbon fleece.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present invention, a lithium anode assembly of a lithium-air battery is provided, comprising: a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector; two plate-shaped anode layers made of metallic lithium, a lithium-rich alloy, or a lithium-rich compound, arranged such that they sandwich a portion of the anode current collector between them; two plate-shaped insulating layers made of lithium-ion conductivity glass-ceramic, arranged such that they sandwich another portion of the anode current collector and the entirety of the two anode layers between them; and a connecting area provided to connect and close outer circumferential regions of the two insulating layers, the remainder of the anode current collector being exposed to the outside between the two insulating layers.

[0026] According to the present invention with the properties specified above, it is possible to provide a compact lithium-air battery that avoids a significant increase in size compared to a conventional air battery, even when energy density and input / output density are increased. It is also possible to provide a lithium anode array for the lithium-air battery.

[0027] The other characteristic features and advantageous effects that can be achieved according to the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and made clearer. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] The accompanying drawings include: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a lithium-air battery according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view showing an internal structure of the lithium-air battery according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 a circuit diagram illustrating the lithium-air battery according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view illustrating another example of an internal structure of the lithium-air battery according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective view illustrating a lithium anode assembly of the lithium-air battery according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view illustrating the lithium anode assembly of the lithium-air battery according to the other embodiment of the present invention. Description of the preferred embodiment

[0029] Below, embodiments of a lithium-air battery and a lithium anode assembly of the lithium-air battery according to the present invention are described with reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6 described.

[0030] In the following disclosure of the embodiments, it should be noted that the lithium anode assembly of the present embodiment may only be called an "anode assembly" or, in view of its structural design or nature, a "protected lithium anode assembly".

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lithium-air battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] A lithium-air battery 1 is a battery that performs an electrical charging / discharging function, and as described in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 1, the lithium-air battery 1 according to the present embodiment has a housing 2, which serves as an outer casing, an anode current collector 5, which is brought out of the interior of the housing 2 to be exposed, and an air electrode current collector 6, which serves as a cathode current collector.

[0033] The housing 2 is a molded part made of a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable material, such as polyethylene or Gore-Tex (registered trademark), and is a hollow body with a hexahedral shape, for example, a rectangular three-dimensional shape. Alternatively, the housing 2 can be a molded part made of a gas- and liquid-impermeable material. In this case, ventilation openings are provided on the side walls of the housing 2, with the ventilation openings being located where the electrolyte 7 described later cannot leak out, in order to circulate air into and out of the housing.

[0034] Only the anode current collector 5 and the air electrode current collector 6 are exposed on the outside of the housing 2.

[0035] Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an internal structure of the lithium-air battery according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the lithium-air battery.

[0036] It should also be noted that a lithium anode assembly 8 and an air electrode 9, which are adjacent to each other, are in contact with each other in practice. Fig. However, for the sake of simple differentiation and understanding, Figure 2 shows the lithium anode assembly 8 and the air electrode, which are adjacent, in a way that separates them from each other.

[0037] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. As illustrated in Figure 3, the lithium-air battery 1 according to the present embodiment has a housing 2 for accommodating a plurality of protected lithium anode assemblies (anode assemblies) 8 and a plurality of air electrodes 9 arranged in such a way that they alternately overlap and are stacked, and an electrolyte 7 which is contained in the housing 2 in contact with at least the air electrodes 9 to provide lithium-ion conduction between the air electrodes 9 and the anode assemblies 8.

[0038] A surface of each anode assembly 8 and a surface of each air electrode 9 opposite such an anode assembly surface form an air battery cell 11. In other words, the lithium-air battery 1 has as many parallel air battery cells 11 as the number of locations where the anode assemblies 8 and the air electrodes 9 are opposite each other.

[0039] The majority of anode arrays 8 and the majority of air electrodes 9 each have plate-like shapes. Furthermore, the majority of anode arrays 8 and the majority of air electrodes 9 are each electrically connected in parallel.

[0040] Each air electrode 9 has a larger area in projection than each anode assembly 8, and more precisely, each air electrode 9 has a square shape that is relatively larger than the square flat plate-shaped shape of each anode assembly 8.

[0041] Each air electrode 9 comprises an air electrode layer 13 containing an electrically conductive material and facing at least one of each anode assembly 8 (i.e., a surface of each insulating layer 12, which will be described later), and a plate-shaped or strip-shaped air electrode current collector 6 electrically connected to the air electrode layer 13.

[0042] The air electrode layers 13 are made of an electrical conductor, such as carbon fiber, and have a thin, plate-like shape. Specifically, the air electrode layers 13 are made of carbon fabric or carbon fleece. Each air electrode layer 13 absorbs the electrolyte 7 by means of a capillary phenomenon, in order to insert the electrolyte between the anode assembly 8 and the air electrode 9.

[0043] The air electrode current collector 6 is an electrical conductor made of aluminum, gold, or platinum. The electrolyte 7 is an aqueous electrolytic solution and can be in contact with the anode assemblies 8.

[0044] Alternatively, the electrolyte 7 can be a polymer electrolyte. In this case, the electrolyte 7 can either be a thin, film-like body sandwiched between an air electrode 9 and an anode assembly 8, or a membrane body coating one surface of each air electrode layer 13.

[0045] Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating another example of the internal structure of the lithium-air battery according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 2 examples shown.

[0046] Furthermore, in this example, a protected lithium anode array (which can only be called an anode array) 8 and an air electrode 9A, which are adjacent to each other, are in contact with each other in practice. Fig. However, 4 are the anode assembly 8 and the air electrode, which are adjacent, but are shown separately for the sake of easy differentiation and understanding.

[0047] It is also noted that components forming a lithium-air battery 1A, which are identical to those of lithium-air battery 1, are designated with the same reference numerals and will not be discussed again here.

[0048] As in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 4, an air electrode layer 13A, contained within an air electrode 9A of the lithium-air battery 1A according to the present embodiment, is folded in a zigzag pattern. Each of a plurality of anode assemblies 8 is sandwiched together with planar regions 13b, each of which is located between fold lines 13a of the air electrode layer 13A.

[0049] For an air electrode layer 13A, into which the majority of anode assemblies 8 are inserted, only one air electrode current collector 6 should be provided. Therefore, the air electrode current collector 6 of the lithium-air battery 1A can be made smaller in terms of overall length, weight, and volume than the air electrode current collector 6 of the lithium-air battery 1 described in Fig. 2 depicted embodiment.

[0050] Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a protected lithium anode assembly of the lithium-air battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of the protected lithium anode assembly (referred to only as the “anode assembly”) of the lithium-air battery according to the present embodiment.

[0051] As in the Fig. 5 and Fig. As illustrated in Figure 6, each anode assembly 8 of each of the lithium-air batteries 1 and 1A comprises a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector 5, two plate-shaped anode layers 15 made of metallic lithium, a mainly lithium alloy, or a mainly lithium compound arranged such that they sandwich a portion of the anode current collector 5 between them, two plate-shaped insulating layers 12 made of lithium-ion conductivity glass-ceramic arranged such that they sandwich another portion of the anode current collector 5 and the entirety of the two anode layers 15 between them, and a connecting area 16 arranged such that it connects and closes outer edge regions of the two insulating layers 12 while exposing the remainder of the anode current collector 5 between the two insulating layers 12 to the outside.

[0052] In addition, each anode assembly 8 is equipped with a buffer layer 17 which has lithium-ion conductivity and is designed to separate an anode layer 15 and an insulating layer 12 from each other.

[0053] This means that each anode assembly 8 has the structure of a packing or component in which two anode layers 15 to be connected are packed in the buffer layer 17, and the buffer layer 17 is packed in two insulating layers 12 and two connection areas 16. Furthermore, the anode current collector 5 is an electrical conductor made of copper, gold, or platinum.

[0054] The two anode layers 15 have essentially the same square plate-shaped form and are connected to each other, with part of the anode current collector 5 sandwiched between them.

[0055] Furthermore, it is desirable to manufacture the anode layers 15 from metallic lithium. Alternatively, the anode layers 15 can be manufactured from a lithium-rich alloy or compound instead of metallic lithium. The lithium-rich alloy can contain any of the following materials: magnesium, calcium, aluminum, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and the like. Examples of lithium-rich compounds include Li 3-x M x N (M = Co, Cu or Fe).

[0056] The buffer layer 17 is a lithium-ion conductive polymer electrolyte or a lithium-ion conductive organic electrolyte solution. Furthermore, it is also desirable that the lithium-ion conductivity of the buffer layer 17 be 10 -5 S / cm or higher.

[0057] The buffer layer 17 can be either a solid electrolyte produced by dispersing a lithium salt in a polymer, or a gel electrolyte produced by swelling a polymer with an electrolytic solution in which a lithium salt is dissolved.

[0058] Examples of the polymer that serves as the host or base material of the solid electrolyte include PEO (polyethylene oxide) and PPO (polypropylene oxide).

[0059] Examples of the polymer that serves as the host or base material of the gel electrolyte include PEO (polyethylene oxide), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PVDF-HFP (a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene).

[0060] Examples of the lithium salt include LiPF6, LiClO4, LiBF4, LiTFSI (Li(CF3SO2)2N), Li(C2F4SO2)2N and LiBOB (Lithium bis(oxalato)borate).

[0061] In a case where PEO is used, which is particularly desirable as the polymer for the solid electrolyte, it is desirable that the molecular weight of PEO be 10 4 up to 10 5 is, and that the molar ratio of PEO to the lithium salt is 8 to 30:1.

[0062] To improve the strength and electrochemical properties of the buffer layer 17, a powder of a ceramic filler, for example BaTiO3, can also be dispersed in the polymer. The amount of ceramic filler to be mixed in is preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the other components.

[0063] Incidentally, when the anode layers 15 and the insulating layers 12 come into contact, the lithium of the anode layers 15 and the glass-ceramic of the insulating layers 12 react with each other. In a case, for example, where the material of the insulating layers 12 is LTAP, Ti 4+ The LTAP of lithium is reduced. However, such a reaction is suppressed by interposing the buffer layer 17 between the anode layers 15 and the insulating layers 12, thereby preventing contact between them. This arrangement contributes to extending the lifetime of the lithium-air battery 1.

[0064] Inorganic substances such as Li, Li3N and Li have also been used as the material for buffer layer 17. x PO Y N ZThe buffer layer 17 can be produced by a simplified process, such as a doctor blade process, spin coating, or slip casting, using a polymer electrolyte as the buffer layer material. This design or arrangement can provide the advantage of eliminating the need for a sputtering deposition process, which is costly and difficult to use when treating large areas for the buffer layer 17. Additionally, it is easy to modify the composition of the polymer electrolyte, which contributes to improved design freedom.

[0065] Alternatively, the buffer layer 17 can be configured such that a separating element (porous polyethylene or polypropylene) is impregnated with an organic electrolytic solution. In this case, the organic electrolytic solution to be used for the buffer layer 17 is prepared by mixing diethyl carbonate or dimethyl carbonate into ethylene carbonate and adding a lithium salt, such as LiPF6 (lithium hexafluorophosphate), to the mixture.

[0066] The insulating layers 12 comprise almost the entire outer shell of the anode assembly 8, thereby protecting the anode layers 15 from water. That is, the two insulating layers 12 are positioned so that they face the air electrode layers 13 of different air electrodes 9.

[0067] The insulating layers 12 have a rectangular, flat, plate-like shape that is relatively larger than the anode layers 15, and they enclose the entirety of the two anode layers 15, forming a single unit. That is, the central region of each insulating layer 12 faces one of the anode layers 15, and the outer edge or perimeter of each insulating layer 12 projects outwards from the anode layer 15 like a brim or eaves. Furthermore, a thickness of approximately 100 to 300 µm is desirable for each insulating layer.

[0068] Furthermore, the insulating layers 12 are made of waterproof and lithium-ion conductive glass-ceramic. The lithium-ion conductivity of the insulating layers 12 is desirablely 10 -5S / cm or higher, and each insulating layer 12 is preferably a lithium-ion conductor of the NASICON (Na Superionic Conductor) type. It is particularly desirable that each insulating layer 12 be a lithium-ion conductor, represented by the general formula Li 1+x M 2-x M' x (PO4)3, in which the lithium-ion conductivity is improved by replacing part of the tetravalent cation M of a lithium-ion conductor, represented by the general formula Li3M2(PO4) (where M is a tetravalent cation, such as Zr, Ti, or Ge), with a trivalent cation M', such as In or Al. Alternatively, any insulating layer 12 is a lithium-ion conductor, represented by the general formula

[0069] Li 1-x M 2-x M'' x(PO4)3, in which the lithium ion conductivity is improved by replacing part of the tetravalent cation M of a lithium ion conductor, which is represented by the general formula

[0070] Li3M2(PO4) (where M is a tetravalent cation such as Zr, Ti, or Ge), by a pentavalent cation M'' such as Ta. It is also desirable to replace P in these lithium-ion conductors with Si. In particular, it is desirable that each insulating layer 12 be a lithium-ion conductor, which is described by the general formula Li 1+x+u Ti 2-x Al x P 3-y Si y O 12 (LTAP) is represented.

[0071] The connecting areas 16 form a bridge between the respective outer edge areas of the two insulating layers 12. The connecting areas 16 close off an area that is sandwiched between the two insulating layers 12 (back and bottom sides). Fig.5), and the connecting areas 16 seal a partial area of ​​the anode current collector 5, the two anode layers 15 and the buffer layer 17 in this area in conjunction with the two insulating layers 12.

[0072] Furthermore, the connecting areas 16 are made of an epoxy resin-based adhesive, a silicone-based adhesive or a styrene-butadiene rubber-based adhesive, which is filled into a space between the outer edge areas or circumferential areas of the two insulating layers 12 and then cured.

[0073] Since the connection areas 16 are exposed to both the buffer layer 17 and the electrolyte 7, it may be preferable for the connection areas 16 to be resistant to both organic electrolyte solutions and alkalis. If a polymer electrolyte is used for the buffer layer 17, the connection areas 16 only need to be alkali-resistant.

[0074] The connection areas 16 can alternatively consist of resin, which is poured in and hardened instead of the adhesive.

[0075] The lithium-air battery 1 and the anode assemblies 8 according to the present embodiment allow both sides of each plate-shaped anode assembly 8 to contribute to electricity generation. This double-sided use of each anode assembly 8 allows the area effective for the cell reaction per unit volume to be increased to twice the area of ​​a conventional lithium-air battery, thus improving input / output density.

[0076] In addition, the lithium-air battery 1 and the anode assemblies 8 according to the present embodiment can eliminate the need for laminate films used in a conventional lithium-air battery, reduce the number of components, and do not require any difficult joining or bonding when joining polypropylene and glass ceramic of a laminate film.

[0077] In contrast to a conventional lithium-air battery, which contains an aqueous electrolyte for each unit cell in which an anode assembly and an air electrode form a pair, the lithium-air battery 1 and the anode assemblies 8 according to the present embodiment are such that a plurality of air battery cells 11 are connected in parallel and housed in a casing 2. Therefore, the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8 of the present embodiment, which has such a configuration, do not require a partition for each air battery cell 11 (corresponding to an outer casing of the conventional lithium-air battery). Instead, a plurality of air battery cells 11 share the electrolyte 7, making it possible to optimize the amount of electrolyte 7 contained, thereby reducing the overall weight and volume of the lithium-air battery 1.

[0078] Furthermore, according to the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8 of the present embodiment, in a case where an aqueous electrolytic solution is included as the electrolyte 7 in the housing 2, even if the electrolyte 7 evaporates as discharge progresses, the electrolyte 7 can be successively re-supplied to the air electrodes 9.

[0079] Consequently, in the case of the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8, it is not necessary to refill or replenish the electrolyte 7 over a longer period of time, thus avoiding deterioration in performance due to forgetting to refill the electrolyte 7.

[0080] Furthermore, in the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8 according to the present embodiment, the two insulating layers 12 are connected by the connection areas 16. Therefore, the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8 can be manufactured more easily than in a case where joining polypropylene and glass ceramic in a laminate film causes difficulties during the joining process.

[0081] Therefore, according to the lithium-air battery 1 and the protected lithium anode assemblies 8 of the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid an extraordinary increase in size, thereby making the battery compact compared to a conventional air battery, even when energy density and input / output density are increased.

Claims

[1] Having a lithium-air battery (1A): a plurality of lithium anode compounds (8); and an air electrode (9A), wherein each comprises the plurality of lithium anode compounds (8): a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector (5); two plate-shaped anode layers (15) made of metallic lithium, a lithium-rich alloy or a lithium-rich compound arranged in such a way as to sandwich around part of the anode current collector (5), two plate-shaped insulating layers (12) made of lithium-ion conductivity glass-ceramic and arranged to sandwich another part of the anode current collector (5) and the two anode layers (15) together; and a connection (16) which is provided to connect and close outer circumferential areas of the two insulating layers (12), wherein the remainder of the anode current collector (5) between the two insulating layers (12) is exposed to the outside, and the air electrode (9A) comprises: an air electrode layer (13A) containing an electrically conductive material and facing at least one of the two insulating layers (12); and a plate-shaped or strip-shaped air electrode current collector (6) electrically connected to the air electrode layer (13A), characterized by , that the air electrode layer (13A) is folded in a zigzag pattern, and each lithium anode assembly (8) of the plurality of lithium anode assemblies (8) is sandwich-like surrounded by planar regions (13b) of the air electrode layer (13A), each of which is located between fold lines (13a) of the air electrode layer (13A). [2] Lithium-air battery (1A) according to claim 1, further comprising a housing (2) in which the plurality of lithium anode assemblies (8) and the air electrode (9A) are arranged, and wherein an electrolyte (7) is included in the housing (2) in contact with at least the air electrode (9A) in order to provide a lithium ion conduction between the air electrode (9A) and the plurality of lithium anode assemblies (8). [3] Lithium air battery (1A) according to claim 2, wherein the housing (2) is a molded part made of a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable material. [4] Lithium air battery (1A) according to claim 3, wherein only the anode current collector (5) and the air electrode current collector (6) are exposed on the outside of the housing (2). [5] Lithium air battery (1A) according to claim 1, wherein the anode current collector (5) is made of one of the materials copper, gold and platinum. [6] Lithium air battery (1A) according to claim 1, wherein the air electrode current collector (6) is made of one of the materials aluminium, gold and platinum. [7] Lithium air battery (1A) according to claim 1, wherein the air electrode layer (13A) is made of carbon fabric or carbon fleece.

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