Electrode-Electrolyte Interactions in an Aqueous Aluminum-Carbon Rechargeable Battery System.

Jasmin Smajic,Amira Alazmi,Nimer Wehbe,Pedro M F J Costa

doi:10.3390/nano11123235

Abstract

Being environmentally friendly, safe and easy to handle, aqueous electrolytes are of particular interest for next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices. When coupled with an abundant, recyclable and low-cost electrode material such as aluminum, the promise of a green and economically sustainable battery system has extraordinary appeal. In this work, we study the interaction of an aqueous electrolyte with an aluminum plate anode and various graphitic cathodes. Upon establishing the boundary conditions for optimal electrolyte performance, we find that a mesoporous reduced graphene oxide powder constitutes a better cathode material option than graphite flakes.

Highlights

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have developed into a reliable and high energy density solution for consumer electronics [1,2]
Circulating between Al and glassy carbon electrodes, the electrochemical response of the electrolyte was studied as a function of Al(OTF)3 concentration (Figure S1)
Confronted with the predominance of metal oxides, we looked for possible alternatives and tested two of the most common carbon electrode materials: graphite and expanded graphite

Summary

Introduction

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have developed into a reliable and high energy density solution for consumer electronics [1,2]. Aqueous electrolytes are the most desirable, due to safety and sustainability, but their adoption has largely failed as an oxide surface layer forms spontaneously on Al metal plates (anode) contacting water. In such circumstances, potentials that exceed the thermodynamic stability of water are required for the electrochemical. In a bid to fabricate a low-cost, stable and environmentally friendly Al-battery, we build on top of Zhao0 s conclusions and explore the stability of the “artificial SEI”. We observe that the graphitic carbon powders can have very interesting cathodic performance, provided their structure and chemistry are carefully tailored for this function

Results and Discussion

Electrochemical performance of theofsupercritically

Conclusions

Materials Synthesis

Materials Characterization

Electrochemical Measurements