Abstract
The high abundance and low cost of aluminum and sulfur make the Al–S battery an attractive combination. However, significant improvements in performance are required, and increasing the thickness and sulfur content of the sulfur electrodes is critical for the development of batteries with competitive specific energies. This work concerns the development of sulfur electrodes with the highest sulfur content (60 wt %) reported to date for an Al–S battery system and a systematic study of the effect of the sulfur electrode thickness on battery performance. If low‐cost electrolytes made from acetamide or urea are used, slow mass transport of the electrolyte species is identified as the main cause of the poor sulfur utilization when the electrode thickness is decreased, whereas complete sulfur utilization is achieved with a less viscous ionic liquid. In addition, the analysis of very thin electrodes reveals the occurrence of degradation reactions in the low‐cost electrolytes. The new analysis method is ideal for evaluating the stability and mass transport limitations of novel electrolytes for Al–S batteries.
Highlights
Lithium-ion batteries are currently the best performing rechargeable batteries on the market and are used in mobile devices, electric vehicles and various other small-scale energy storage systems
This resulted in an increase in the cathode thickness, which was measured by using a highprecision thickness gauge
A systematic study of the effect of the thickness of the sulfur cathode on the electrochemical response of Al–S batteries is presented for three relevant electrolytes: the most popular
Summary
Lithium-ion batteries are currently the best performing rechargeable batteries on the market and are used in mobile devices, electric vehicles and various other small-scale energy storage systems. It is clear that the Al–S battery is in its infancy, but promising high values of specific capacity have been achieved These early studies demonstrate the potential of Al–S batteries as an alternative low-cost battery, but much more work is required to improve performance to pave the way towards commercialization.[5]. Sulfur electrodes with high sulfur loading and high sulfur content are required to meet the requirements of commercial applications of high specific energy and high energy density Is required for the development of less viscous electrolytes and advanced cathode structures with controlled porosity and low tortuosity to enable fast electrolyte ion transport
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
