The global aviation industry has been struggling to wean itself away from kerosene jet fuel, but there have been some signs that change is on the way. However, this may apply only to much smaller aircraft.
Full sized airplanes represent a significant challenge, which requires a completely new generation of lighter, higher performing (increased energy density) batteries. And, the US startup Air Energy may have a solution: solid State Lithium-Air batteries.
The idea is to use oxygen as a key ingredient in a rechargeable lithium-based battery, thereby saving considerable weight while potentially boosting energy density far beyond the capacity of ordinary lithium-ion technology
The US Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory discovered that the cathode-centered assumption behind all the previous work, was mistaken. They observed lithium hydroxide forming on the anode during operation, causing the battery to degrade, and the research work kicked off.
Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Obviously we are not there yet, and the batteries are not suitable for the larger aircraft, but if the latest research can be upscaled into production, then light aircraft may just have found their zero-emission option. PSR
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