Evaluating the potential of the lithium-carbon dioxide battery to replace the lithium-ion battery

A recent advance in battery research has yielded the discovery of a lithium carbon-dioxide battery (Li-CO2). These batteries capture CO2 from the atmosphere to store and discharge energy. Li-CO2 batteries are an attempt at providing a large-scale battery solution for energy storage. They have a greater energy density (7x that of existing lithium-ion battery (LIB), are safe (fewer short circuit problems) and environmentally friendly (reduced harmful greenhouse gas). However, to date, Li-CO2 batteries have not yet been actively pursued due to a variety of technical challenges in their implementation: an excess buildup of carbon that ruins the battery after a few cycles of charge and discharge, net energy capacity loss with discharge cycles, no definite catalyst to speed up the reaction and research being performed under 100% CO2 partial pressure. By reviewing the current state of Li-CO2 battery, we compare its performance with LIB, and analyze possible advancements in the technology needed before it can become widely available. The goal of this review is to analyze the advantages and drawbacks of the current technological state of Li-CO2 batteries in comparison with the leading technology of LIB, by a techno-economic comparison. Our key findings are that LIBs are currently safer, last longer, discharge more, and are also more economically favorable than Li-CO2 in terms of durability, and cost. However, Li-CO2 batteries are more environmentally friendly, have a greater energy density, making them useful in energy grid balancing, mitigating large voltage fluctuations and in high volume transportation. There are potential applications for both batteries, and we propose steps that the field could take in order to address the challenges we have identified, that stop Li-CO2 batteries from being widely adopted.