Grid-Scale Lithium-Air Battery Systems: Electrolyte Stability and Cycle Life Enhancement via Ionic Liquid Additives

Rivera, Marcus; Zhang, Prof. Linda; Yamamoto, Dr. Kenji

Chemistry · research

Grid-Scale Lithium-Air Battery Systems: Electrolyte Stability and Cycle Life Enhancement via Ionic Liquid Additives

Marcus Rivera^1* · Prof. Linda Zhang¹ · Dr. Kenji Yamamoto¹

1California Institute of Technology, Cybersecurity, United States

* Corresponding author

Published: 24 August 2026
Volume: 2 (Issue 21)
Article no.: 023

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterisation of a novel ionic liquid additive that extends the cycle life of lithium-air batteries from 120 to 840 discharge-charge cycles while maintaining >85% capacity retention. X-ray diffraction and in situ transmission electron microscopy reveal the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase that suppresses parasitic Li2CO3 accumulation.

Keywords

lithium-air battery
ionic liquid
electrolyte
energy storage
grid scale

DOE Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (DE-SC0021234)