Fast-charged aluminum-ion battery with aluminum-graphene nanocomposite anode

Abstract

Currently, aluminum-ion batteries are considered attractive energy storage devices because aluminum is an inexpensive, widely available, environmentally friendly, low-flammable, and high recyclable electrode material. Electrochemical cell simulating the work of an aluminum-ion battery with aluminum-graphene nanocomposite–negative electrode, positive graphene electrode, and chloroaluminate ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride has been designed and tested. The cell exhibits excellent performance and long shelf life. The aluminum-graphene composite is not prone to oxidation over a long period of time. Consequently, the negative electrode surface does not undergo passivation by trace amounts of water and oxygen in the electrolyte during storage, which considerably prolongs the battery shelf life. The analyzed cell delivered stable performance across a wide range of charge/discharge rates for several thousands of cycles without any noticeable loss in capacity and Coulombic efficiency. It has almost 100% Coulombic efficiency at high charge/discharge current densities and retains its characteristics after a 7-day current-free period.