Aluminum Alloys as Anodes for Aluminum Batteries

Abstract

The development of batteries based on metals alternative to Lithium (e.g. Na, Mg, Zn, Al) requires the investigation of new electrodes and electrolytes. [1,2].This is particularly true in the case of non-aqueous Aluminum batteries which typically include a pure (>99.8%) Aluminum anode which: a) suffer of poor cycling stability and low coulombic efficiency; b) is particularly subjected to dendrite growth; c) can undergo to corrosion phenomena upon cycling; and d) show a poor compatibility toward chloroaluminated electrolytes [3].In this regard, the development of Aluminum alloys, alternative to pure Al anodes, is a challenging task which is barely investigated in the field of Aluminum ion batteries and requires experience in both battery electrochemistry and Aluminum metallurgy and casting.In this scenario, the proposed work investigates the synthesis and characterization of ternary Aluminum, alloys comprising Si, Ti and B as alloying elements, as anodes for Al-ion batteries [4]. Deposition/stripping measurements, impedance spectroscopy, metallographic analysis, EDXS and XRD techniques unveil the complex interplay existing between the microstructures of the alloys and the obtained electrochemical performance. It is demonstrated that a remarkable improvement in the: a) oxidation/reduction currents and overvoltages; and b) interfacial stability with the electrolyte; can be obtained, with respect to a conventional Al anode. Results allow to demonstrate that the investigation of Aluminum alloys can be crucial for the development of future Aluminum batteries.[1] F Bertasi, C Hettige, F Sepehr, X Bogle, G Pagot, K Vezzù, E Negro, S J Paddison, S G Greenbaum, M Vittadello, V Di Noto, ChemSusChem, 2015, 8 (18), 3069-3076[2] F Bertasi, F Sepehr, G Pagot, SJ Paddison, V Di Noto, Advanced Functional Materials 2016, 26 (27), 4860-4865[3] Y Zhang, S Liu, Y Ji, J Ma, H Yu, Advanced Materials 2018, 30 (38), 1706310[4] Italian Patent Application n° 102022000024522