Futuristic lithium-oxygen battery concept with glowing interfaces.

The Future of Batteries: Designer Interphases Boost Lithium-Oxygen Cell Performance

Theo Raines in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 3 min read.

"Scientists are engineering interfaces within lithium-oxygen batteries to overcome key limitations and unlock their high energy potential."

The quest for high-energy storage solutions has led researchers to explore lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. These batteries hold immense promise due to their theoretical specific energy, potentially surpassing current lithium-ion technology. Imagine a world where electric vehicles rival the range of gasoline cars – Li-O2 batteries could make this a reality.

However, Li-O2 cells face significant hurdles. Issues with the cathode, anode, and electrolyte lead to poor rechargeability, high overpotentials (energy wasted during charging), and overall performance that falls short of theoretical expectations. These challenges have limited the practical application of Li-O2 batteries.

Now, researchers are tackling these limitations head-on by designing solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) that form in situ (during battery operation). These SEIs leverage bromide ionomers tethered to a lithium anode, taking advantage of multiple processes to improve battery performance.

How Do Designer Interphases Improve Li-O2 Batteries?

Futuristic lithium-oxygen battery concept with glowing interfaces.

The approach focuses on in-situ formation of solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) based on bromide ionomers tethered to a Li anode that take advantage of three powerful processes for overcoming the most stubborn of these challenges. The ionomer SEIs are shown to:

Recent research highlights the potential of solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) in lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. By using bromide ionomers connected to a lithium anode, these SEIs improve battery performance through multiple methods:

Protect the Lithium Anode: Preventing unwanted side reactions that degrade the anode.
Stabilize Lithium Electrodeposition: Promoting a more uniform and controlled lithium deposition during recharge, minimizing dendrite formation (dendrites can cause short circuits).
Mediate Redox Reactions: Bromine species released during the anchoring reaction act as redox mediators at the cathode, lowering the charge overpotential (the extra voltage needed to charge the battery).
Create a Stable Interphase: Forming a robust and stable interface between the electrolyte and lithium metal, even with high Gutmann donor number liquid electrolytes (electrolytes known for their instability with lithium metal).

Let's break down why each of these improvements is so critical:

What Does This Mean for the Future of Batteries?

This research demonstrates the power of rationally designed SEIs in regulating ion and matter transport at the electrolyte/anode interface. By addressing major technical barriers in Li-O2 cells, this work paves the way for more practical and high-performance energy storage solutions. The ability to stabilize lithium metal in aggressive electrolytes opens doors to exploring new electrolyte chemistries that were previously incompatible, potentially leading to even greater improvements in battery performance. As the demand for energy storage continues to grow, innovations like these designer interphases will be crucial in shaping the future of batteries.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1126/sciadv.1602809, Alternate LINK

Title: Designer Interphases For The Lithium-Oxygen Electrochemical Cell

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Science Advances

Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Authors: Snehashis Choudhury, Charles Tai-Chieh Wan, Wajdi I. Al Sadat, Zhengyuan Tu, Sampson Lau, Michael J. Zachman, Lena F. Kourkoutis, Lynden A. Archer

Published: 2017-04-07

Everything You Need To Know

What are lithium-oxygen batteries, and why are they being explored?

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries are an emerging battery technology with the potential to store significantly more energy than current lithium-ion batteries. This is because they utilize oxygen from the air as a reactant, making them lighter and theoretically capable of achieving much higher energy densities. If successfully developed, Li-O2 batteries could revolutionize electric vehicles, allowing them to travel distances comparable to gasoline-powered cars. However, they face challenges related to rechargeability, energy efficiency, and stability.

What are solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) and what is their importance in batteries?

Solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) are crucial components within batteries, especially in Li-O2 batteries. They are formed in situ, meaning they develop during the battery's operation. In the context of Li-O2 batteries, specifically designer SEIs composed of bromide ionomers tethered to a lithium anode, are engineered to address key issues such as lithium anode degradation, non-uniform lithium deposition, high overpotentials during charging, and instability with aggressive electrolytes. By improving these aspects, SEIs enable Li-O2 batteries to perform closer to their theoretical potential.

How do designer solid-electrolyte interphases improve battery performance?

Designer solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) improve lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) battery performance through multiple mechanisms. First, they protect the lithium anode by preventing unwanted side reactions that degrade it. Second, they stabilize lithium electrodeposition, which ensures a more uniform and controlled lithium deposition during recharge, minimizing the formation of dendrites that can cause short circuits. Third, they mediate redox reactions, with bromine species released during the anchoring reaction acting as redox mediators at the cathode, lowering the charge overpotential. Finally, they create a stable interface between the electrolyte and lithium metal, even with high Gutmann donor number liquid electrolytes that are typically unstable with lithium metal.

What are "overpotentials" in the context of batteries, and how are they being addressed?

Overpotentials in lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries refer to the extra voltage required to charge the battery beyond its theoretical voltage. High overpotentials lead to energy wastage as heat during charging, reducing the overall efficiency of the battery. By incorporating solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) with bromide redox mediators, the overpotential during charging can be significantly reduced. The mediator participates in the electrochemical reactions at the cathode, making the charging process more efficient. This leads to less energy loss and better overall battery performance.

Why is it so important to stabilize the lithium anode in lithium-oxygen batteries?

Stabilizing the lithium anode is important because lithium is highly reactive. Without protection, the lithium anode can react with the electrolyte, leading to degradation and reduced battery life. Uncontrolled reactions also cause lithium dendrite formation. Solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) made from bromide ionomers connected to a lithium anode are designed to create a protective layer that prevents these unwanted reactions, thus stabilizing the lithium anode. This stabilization ensures better battery performance and extends its lifespan.