Researchers dispute reported break­through in lithium-​​battery technology

Recent research published in the prestigious journal Science described a breakthrough in lithium-battery technology—the super-efficient source of power for everything from smartphones and laptops to electric cars. The researchers, from Cambridge University, claimed success at engineering a "lithium-air," or Li-air, battery, which uses oxygen from the atmosphere as one of its components. It holds the promise of being lighter, longer-lasting, and cheaper than lithium ion, or Li-ion, batterie