Aqueous lithium air batteries

An alkali metal/oxygen electrochemical energy storage cell, the cell comprising:

• an anode comprising an alkali metal electroactive component material;
• an open-to-ambient-air cathode on or at which molecular oxygen obtained from the ambient air is electro-reduced during cell discharge, the cathode in alkali metal ion communication with the anode;
• an aqueous catholyte comprising water and one or more organic polyprotic active compounds dissolved in water that partake in a cell discharge reaction and effectuate cathode capacity for discharge below pH 7, the catholyte in contact with said cathode, wherein the one or more organic polyprotic active compounds comprises an organic polyprotic acid that dissociates over the course of discharge, thus yielding two or more active protons per acid molecule in the catholyte that partake in the cell reaction as the discharge proceeds;
• and
• a protective membrane architecture interposed between the cathode and the anode, the protective membrane architecture having a first and a second major surface, the first surface adjacent to the cathode and in contact with the catholyte and the second surface adjacent to the anode;
• and
• wherein the protective membrane architecture solely allows through transport of the alkali metal ion and prevents liquids from contacting the alkali metal anode;
• and
• wherein the organic polyprotic acid comprises a species that dissociates over the course of discharge yielding two or more active protons per acid molecule in the catholyte that partake in the cell reaction as the discharge proceeds.