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Metal/air batteries have a much higher gravimetric energy density than most available primary and rechargeable batteries. These batteries are unique in that the cathode active material is not stored in the battery. Oxygen from the environment is reduced at a catalytic air electrode surface forming either an oxide or peroxide ion that then reacts with cationic species in the electrolyte, metal air batteries have a much higher gravimetric energy density than that achieved by metal oxide/carbon couples. The Li/O2 couple is especially attractive because it has the potential for the highest gravimetric energy density (11,238 Wh/kg exclude oxygen and 5,200 Wh/kg include oxygen) among all the known electrochemical couples. Even considering a 50% weight contribution from other inactive materials (including the cathode, separator, electrolyte, and packaging), the gravimetric energy density of the lithium air battery is still much larger than that achievable using conventional lithium or lithium ion batteries.
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