Enhanced performance of Al-0.02Mg-0.01Sn-0.004Bi-0.003In alloy as novel anode for Al-air batteries in alkaline electrolyte

Abstract

In this paper, aluminum alloy doped with Mg, In, Sn and Bi (Al-0.02Mg-0.01Sn-0.004Bi-0.003In) is prepared via melting and casting process. The influence of rare earth elements Bi and In on electrochemical performance of aluminum alloy anode is studied. The self-corrosion of hydrogen evolution and the electrochemical performance are investigated for the prepared alloy in 4 M NaOH electrolyte. The scanning electron microscope is used to study the surface morphology of the prepared alloy after discharge. It shows that synergistic effect between the alloy elements significantly reduces the self-corrosion rate of aluminum anode. Discharge experiments display that the prepared alloy outputs high capacity density and energy density of 2857.14 A h kg−1 and 4805.71 W h kg−1 at a high discharge rate (50 mA cm−2), respectively. It can also obtained considerable anodic utilization of 95.94 %. The prepared aluminum alloy is a desirable candidate anode material for the high-performance Al-air battery.