Japanese researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have announced a major stride toward a lithium–air battery—a technology that, on paper, could give electric cars a driving range comparable to gasoline models. The breakthrough centers on a new type of carbon membrane that precisely manages how oxygen interacts with lithium.

The Achilles’ heel of lithium–air cells has always been instability and rapid capacity fade. The team tackled it with a multilayer porous membrane combining micro-, meso-, and macropores between 2 and 50 nanometers. This architecture evens out oxygen distribution, cuts electrolyte losses, and improves the cell’s thermal stability.

The results are compelling: a prototype reached 360 Wh/kg, roughly twice the figure for today’s lithium‑ion batteries. Calculations point to more than 700 Wh/kg down the line, with a theoretical ceiling near 11,000 Wh/kg—approaching the energy density of gasoline. In testing, six electrodes completed 19 cycles without performance degradation, a rare outcome for this class of battery.

Equally important, the work shows signs of scaling. The researchers produced larger 10×10 cm electrodes, hinting at a transition from pure lab experiments to an early preindustrial phase. Because lithium–air cells draw oxygen from the surrounding air, they free up space inside the cell and push energy density higher.

That recipe looks especially promising for electric vehicles, light aviation, and portable electronics—anywhere every kilogram counts. If this technology makes it to mass production, the EV market could shift dramatically. With two to three times the energy density of current packs, range anxiety would fade, and gasoline cars would face a serious challenge. The numbers suggest a watershed moment is within reach, provided durability and cycle life keep pace as the hardware scales.