Al-air Battery Research Articles

High specific capacity microfluidic Al-air battery with the double-side reactive anode

The cotton-based microfluidic Al-air batteries automatically deliver the electrolyte by the capillary force, available as the power supply for microelectronic devices. However, among these Al-air batteries, only one side of the Al anode participates in anodic reactions, wasting the anode and decreasing the anodic utility. To address the issues and gain a compact battery, the cotton-based Al-air battery with the double-side reactive anode is presented. It is comprised of the two air-breathing cathodes, two cotton channels and one anode. This battery shows a high specific capacity of 2856 mA h g−1 at 10 mA cm−2 current density, corresponding to the anodic utility of 95.8 %. At 3.5 mg cm−2 catalyst loading and 4 mol L−1 NaOH, the battery performance is optimal, with the peak power density of 28.0 ± 0.1 mW cm−2 and the limiting current density of 81.0 ± 4.1 mA cm−2. To further simplify the battery, the electrolyte container and absorbent pad are removed, and the electrolyte is non-flowing. The peak power densities of the batteries with or without the flowing electrolytes are almost the same. Finally, the stacks connected from the two batteries in series with and without the flowing electrolytes can light 63 and 50 light-emitting diodes.

Influence of adding Mg, Sn and Ga on the discharge property of the Al-Sb anode for Al-air batteries

Al-air batteries have become one of the most potential candidates in industrial application. In this study, the influence of Mg, Sn and Ga on the electrochemical behavior and anode property of the Al-Sb alloy is investigated in detail. The single addition of Mg increases the discharge activity and suppresses the hydrogen evolution corrosion, improving the anode property of the Al-Sb alloy. The Al-0.3Mg-0.05Sb alloy presents high specific capacity of 2881.8 mAh∙g−1, outstanding anode utilization of 96.71 % and energy density of 2356.5 mWh∙g−1 at 80 mA∙cm−2. This is because Sb-rich phases enhance the uniform dissolution of the grain boundary and improve the corrosion resistance. Simultaneously adding Mg and Sn improves the energy density of the Al-Sb alloy at high current density. The Al-Sb alloy presents the highest energy density at 80 mA∙cm−2 by simultaneous addition of Mg, Sn and Ga. But the aggravating hydrogen evolution corrosion and serious intergranular corrosion lead to obvious decrease of the specific capacity and anode utilization of the Al-Sb alloy, which is attributed to excessive precipitates and segregation of Ga along the grain boundary.

Harmonize the Al doped CdO nano particles by two distinguishable technique worn as anode in Al-air battery

The development of an effective and economical anode is crucial for Al-air batteries. This article, describes the Al doped CdO nanomaterials that was created using the hydrothermal and sol-gel techniques, for optimization. The measurement of crystal size was done using X-ray diffraction. A scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of surfaces. The structure of the molecule and the strength of the link between Al doped CdO was revealed by the Fourier Transform infrared technique. Studies on electrochemical properties are determined by the voltammetry and GCD with a NaOH electrolyte. The electrochemical findings demonstrates that the sol-gel method used to prepared Al doped CdO had both oxidation and reduction peaks which indicates that this is one of the suitable electrode production method for an electrode in Al-air battery. The specific capacitance of the material synthesized was found to be the highest (289 F/g at 2 mA/g).

Upcycling retired Li-ion batteries into high-performance oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts in flexible Al-air batteries

Upcycling retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) into value-added electrocatalysts represents a promising strategy for tuning the trash into treasure. Herein, an effective approach is reported to convert the LIB anode residues into electrocatalysts that enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The residues are utilized for synthesizing reduced graphene oxides (rGO) with Mn nanoparticles anchored by N and S dopants (Mn/NS-rGO). A Pt/C-comparable ORR performance is achieved in alkaline media, with the onset and half-wave potentials of 1.01 and 0.87 V, as well as the excellent durability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Mn sites, coordinating with N and S dopants, simultaneously optimize the intermediate adsorption and charge distribution, which in turn facilitates ORR. The solid-state Al-air batteries are assembled by using Mn/NS-rGO as the cathode catalyst, showing the power density of 103.8 mW cm−2, which successfully charge a cell phone and power LED lights under flexible working conditions.

Dual electrolyte based aluminium air battery using NiCo2O4–MoSe2 hybrid nanocomposite

In order to develop economical and environment-friendly metal-air batteries, herein, we report aluminium-air batteries (AABs) using low-cost commercially available aluminium (Al) sheets and waste from Al beverage canister as metal anodes and MoSe2, NiCo2O4, and NiCo2O4–MoSe2 hybrid nanostructure as cathodes. The electrocatalytic activity of cathode materials have been examined using three-cell electrochemical configuration in 1 M KOH electrolyte, which shows best oxygen reduction behaviour of hybrid nanostructure attributed to large number of active sites, and synergistic effect between NiCo2O4 and MoSe2. The developed batteries utilize dual electrolyte (KOH-methanol and KOH-water) system to reduce the unwanted corrosion of Al anode and improve the electrocatalytic activity of cathode. Among designed AABs in the present work, AAB with Al canister as anode and NiCo2O4–MoSe2 hybrid nanostructure as cathode shows best performance like higher discharging potential of 1.05 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and higher specific capacity of 1304 mAh g−1. The assembled AABs with hybrid electrocatalyst show almost stable performance for more than 50 h by mechanically replacing the Al anode, once consumed.

Numerical modeling and performance analysis of anode with porous structure for aluminum-air batteries

Aluminium-air batteries have been considered as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. In this work, based on COMSOL Multiphysics, we firstly explored the effect of 3D pore size structure change on the permeation performance of the solution. The results showed that enhancing the permeation stroke of permeable solutions was beneficial to expanding the electrode reaction contact area, but it would reduce the permeation and corrosion resistance effects. For this reason, we further carried out a secondary study of TPMS structure on fluid permeation and its electrochemical performance based on the TPMS structure modelling mechanism. The results showed that the TPMS structure possessed both good solution permeation reaction rate and good corrosion resistance. Additionally, in order to further verify the validity of the simulation data, we carried out the validation of the self-corrosion rate, discharge properties, and electrochemical properties. From the final data, the discharge voltage of the TPMS structure was only 1.43 V, but its corrosion current and polarisation impedance were 2.207 × 10−2 A/cm2 and 2.2 Ω∙cm2, respectively. At the same time, the structure also had good solution permeability. Therefore the porous anode structure design for aluminium-air batteries in three-dimensional state is preferred.

The polyelectrolyte as corrosion inhibitor for the aluminum anode in alkaline-based primary battery: A comparative study with its monomer

In this work, the corrosion inhibition effect of the polyelectrolyte, poly(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), as an additive in the alkaline Al-air battery is described and compared with the monomer dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC). Electrochemical measurement and morphology analysis are employed to characterize the inhibition effects of the additives. Additionally, the discharge characteristics of the battery are explored, and the capacity density is derived. These results demonstrate that the polymer additive suppresses Al samples' corrosion process more effectively than DMDAAC. The adsorption mechanism is proposed based on the Freundlich adsorption isotherm theory and quantum mechanical calculation.

Tailoring the high-density active sites via metal-coordinated ionic liquid encapsulated trimetallic core-shell MOF-derived catalysts for superior ORR in flexible Al-air batteries

The attainment of practicality in flexible Al-air batteries is impeded by the need for efficient air cathodes. To address this challenge, we systematically engineered the trimetallic (ZnCoFe)NC catalyst with a unique morphology of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) on the 3D polyhedral structure (IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC) as an effective cathode. The augmented growth of NCNT facilitated by the metal-coordinated ionic liquid enhances both the specific surface area and the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). As a result, IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC material exhibits a higher onset (1.0 V vs RHE) and half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.89 V vs. RHE) as well as low Tafel slope (61 mV/dec) and surpassed the bare MOF-derived catalysts and Pt/C. E1/2 decreased by only 7 mV after the stability test describes the durability and fast reaction kinetics in the ORR. Upon testing on flexible Al-air with IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC cathode catalysts, it exhibited an OCV of 1.49 V and a peak power density of 34.7 mW cm−2 with 1.3 times higher power performance than the commercial Pt/C along with 3 times longevity than bare catalysts. Additionally, the Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations provide rational evidence that the IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC catalyst has an upshifted d-band center, which, in turn, enhances the adsorption of reaction intermediates, making the catalyst highly promising towards ORR.

Flexible Aluminum-Air Battery Based on High-Performance Three-Dimensional Dual-Network PVA/KC/KOH Composite Gel Polymer Electrolyte.

With a large theoretical capacity and high energy density, aluminum-air batteries are a promising energy storage device. However, the rigid structure and liquid electrolyte of a traditional aluminum-air battery limit its application potential in the field of flexible electronics, and the irreversible corrosion of its anode greatly reduces the battery life. To solve the above problems, a PVA/KC/KOH (2 M) composite gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a three-dimensional dual-network structure consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), kappa-carrageenan (KC), and potassium hydroxide was prepared in this paper by a simple two-step method and applied in aluminum-air batteries. At room temperature, the ionic conductivity of the PVA/KC/KOH (2 M) composite GPE was found to be up to 6.50 × 10-3 S cm-1. By utilizing this composite GPE, a single flexible aluminum-air battery was assembled and achieved a maximum discharge voltage of 1.2 V at 5 mA cm-2, with discharge time exceeding 3 h. Moreover, the single flexible aluminum-air battery maintains good electrochemical performance under various deformation modes, and the output voltage of the battery remains at about 99% after 300 cycles. The construction of flexible aluminum-air batteries based on a three-dimensional dual-network PVA/KC/KOH composite GPE provides excellent safety and high-multiplication capabilities for aluminum-air batteries, making them potential candidates for various flexible device applications.

Guiding Uniform Al Stripping with a Polymer Sol Electrolyte for Long-Lasting Al-Air Batteries

Guiding Uniform Al Stripping with a Polymer Sol Electrolyte for Long-Lasting Al-Air Batteries

Eco-Sustainable Aluminum-Air Batteries

Aluminum-air batteries are energy conversion devices considered to be promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical energy density as well as the easy availability and recyclability of the anode material. The use of neutral water-based electrolytes and raw materials of natural or synthetic but biodegradable origin in the battery components, mainly electrolytes and cathodes, adds further advantages of safety, affordable costs and eco-friendliness. In this work, the electrochemical performance of aluminum-air batteries assembled with gel polymer electrolytes, made of natural polysaccharides and saline aqueous solutions, was investigated and discussed, through comparing the results obtained using cathodes based on platinum catalyst with respect to those based on a cheaper wood-derived activated carbon. Three-electrodes discharge measurements, rate performance tests, polarization and power density curves, and linear sweep voltammetry measurements were used to critically compare different cathodic materials used in combination with neutral electrolytes. The results show that the best electrochemical performances were obtained for aluminum-air cells assembled with wooden biomass-derived air cathodes.

Effect of oxidant additive on enhancing activation property of NaCl-based electrolyte aluminum-air battery

Aluminum-air battery (AAB) with NaCl-based electrolyte exhibits great application potential owing to wide source, high safety, and low cost of the electrolyte. However, the passivation film generated on Al anode surface restricts its continuous dissolution during discharge process. Herein, oxidant additives (FeCl3 or KMnO4) are introduced into NaCl-based electrolyte to enhance activity of Al anode as well as the discharge performance of the battery. A significant increase in the discharge voltage is observed, reaching 1.18V with FeCl3 and 1.15V with KMnO4, considerably higher than the voltage of 0.56V observed in electrolytes without additives. The strong oxidizing properties of these additives promote the dissolution reaction of the Al anode through substitution reactions, resulting in the rupture of the passivation film. In addition, MnO2 is also generated in the case with KMnO4, and then gathers on the surface of Al anode to hinder the discharge reaction, especially for the case with excessive additive. This work explores the effect of oxidant additive on enhancing activation property of Al anode, and provides a guidance of additive choosing in near-neutral electrolyte for AAB.

The efficacy of ammonium ionic liquid to inhibit the parasitic process for Al-air battery

The main objective of this study is to determine how effectively the ammonium ionic liquid (tris(2 hydroxyethyl) methyl ammonium methylsulfate [THMA]+[MS]− works in minimizing parasitic reactions during Al-air battery discharge. The findings obtained indicate that the use of [THMA]+[MS]− reduced the rate of hydrogen gas output during the immersion of Al substrate in the 4.0 M KOH solution. The effectiveness of the ammonium ionic liquid under comparable conditions is confirmed using the linear cathodic polarization method. The addition of [THMA]+[MS]− to a pure 4.0 KOH solution improved the anodic efficiency and capacity density of the battery. Aside from being a novel study for [THMA]+[MS]− as electrolyte battery additives, theoretical research were employed to analyze the mechanism and data interpretation. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of inhibitor-Al interactions performed with Forcite's Materials Studio module add to the data that ammonium ionic [THMA]+[MS]− may suppress the parasite process. SEM, EDX, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) tests for Al electrodes under different circumstances following battery discharge at 20 mA cm−2 support the performance of [THMA]+[MS]−.

The influence of Sn content on the electrochemical performance and discharge characteristics of Al-0.2Mg-0.02In-xSn-0.02Bi alloy anodes in aluminum-air batteries

The influence of Sn content on the electrochemical performance and discharge characteristics of Al-0.2Mg-0.02In-xSn-0.02Bi alloy anodes in aluminum-air batteries

Characterization of the aluminium-air battery utilizing a polypropylene separator with corrosion inhibition ability

Battery energy storage systems are widely used in modern electronic devices and electric vehicles. Metal-air batteries are among the electrochemical energy storage systems that provide high energy density and eco-friendly solutions. Aluminium-air batteries hold a significant advantage with their high theoretical specific energy and have the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries in the future. In this study, the electrical performance and corrosion inhibition characteristics of a polypropylene-based single and dual electrolyte system for aluminium-air batteries were investigated experimentally. The study revealed that a polypropylene separator can reduce the corrosion of the aqueous aluminium-air battery system by up to 40 %, improving the anodic utilization efficiency to 93 %. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis was used to characterize the single and dual electrolyte aluminium-air battery and propose equivalent circuit models. Compared to 1 M KOH electrolyte in a single electrolyte system, the solution resistance of a dual electrolyte aluminium-air battery was reduced by about 40 % using a combination of 1 M of KOH electrolyte and 1 M of H2SO4. This reduction is attributed to the enhancement of the oxygen reduction reaction at the air cathode. A high KOH electrolyte concentration will increase the corrosion of the aluminium anode but can improve the battery’s voltage. At 3 M KOH electrolyte, the plateau voltage is recorded at about 0.6 V while the discharge time reached 44 min when using aluminium alloy 6061 as the anode. The battery model developed in this work provides a fundamental basis for predicting the performance of aluminium-air battery packs.

Tracing the impact of CO2 on the electrochemical and charge–discharge behavior for Al–Mg alloy in KOH and LiOH electrolytes for battery applications

For the first time, it has been found that the electrochemical performance of the Al–Mg alloy as an anode in alkaline batteries has been markedly enhanced in the presence of CO2 and LiOH as an electrolyte. This work compares the electrochemical performance of an Al–Mg alloy used as an anode in Al-air batteries in KOH and LiOH solutions, both with and without CO2. Potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel), charging-discharging (galvanostatic) experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are used. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) outfitted with an energetic-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) were utilized for the investigation of the products on the corroded surface of the electrode. Findings revealed that the examined electrode’s density of corrosion current (icorr.) density in pure LiOH is significantly lower than in pure KOH (1 M). Nevertheless, in the two CO2-containing solutions investigated, icorr. significantly decreased. The corrosion rate of the examined alloy in the two studied basic solutions with and without CO2 drops in the following order: KOH > LiOH > KOH + CO2 > LiOH + CO2. The obtained results from galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements showed excellent performance of the battery in both LiOH and KOH containing CO2. The electrochemical findings and the XRD, SEM, and EDX results illustrations are in good accordance.

High performance Al anode for Al-air battery enabled by coordinating In and Sb additions with discharge parameters

High performance of Al anode for Al-air battery was achieved via coordinating minor In and Sb additions with discharge parameters. The electrochemical behaviors, discharge performance and surface structures of aluminum electrodes are systematically investigated to understand the alloying chemistry coordination of indium and antimony. The results show that coordinating indium and antimony can significantly activate the Al electrode without aggravating the hydrogen evolution. The assembled Al-air cell with Al-0.05In-0.05Sb electrode exhibits a desirable specific capacity and energy density of 2638 Ah·kg−1 and 3166 Wh·kg−1, respectively. Furthermore, antimony has better activating effect than indium, especially at discharge current density over 40 mA·cm−2. The activating mechanisms are discussed in detail.

Advanced Hollow Cubic FeCo-N-C Cathode Electrocatalyst for Ultrahigh-Power Aluminum-Air Battery.

The exploration of electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is pivotal in the development of diverse batteries and fuel cells that rely on ORR. Here, a FeCo-N-C electrocatalyst (FeCo-HNC) featuring with atomically dispersed dual metal sites (Fe-Co) and hollow cubic structure is reported, which exhibits high activity for electrocatalysis of ORR in alkaline electrolyte, as evidenced by a half-wave potential of 0.907V, outperforming that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The practicality of such FeCo-HNC catalyst is demonstrated by integrating it as the cathode catalyst into an alkaline aluminum-air battery (AAB) paring with an aluminum plate serving as the anode. This AAB demonstrates an unprecedented power density of 804mWcm-2 in ambient air and an impressive 1200mWcm-2 in an oxygen-rich environment. These results not only establish a new benchmark but also set a groundbreaking record for the highest power density among all AABs reported to date. Moreover, they stand shoulder to shoulder with state-of-the-art H2-O2 fuel cells. This AAB exhibits robust stability with continuous operation for an impressive 200 h. This groundbreaking achievement underscores the immense potential and forward strides that the present work brings to the field.

An Innovative Approach to Assess the Potentiality of Using Activated Carbon and Rice Husk Ash in Aluminum-Air Battery

Aluminum-air (Al-air) cells have the potential to become vital in energy storage applications in the future because of their high energy density, which is even higher than that of commonly used lithium-ion batteries. However, it is not used widely because the cost of air cathode catalysts and metal anode is high. However, suppose the catalysts are replaced with activated carbon or rice husk ash as an alternative and recycled aluminum foil as an anode. In that case, the production cost might be feasible for the vast use of this type of cell. This study's main objective is to utilize some commonly available material in fabricating an Al-air battery suitable for small and day-to-day usage, reducing production costs and limitations. In this paper, a focused analysis was made on the feasibility of using an activated carbon and rice husk mixture as an air cathode catalyst for an Al-air cell, and the observations were interesting. About 11 samples of a mixture of rice husk ash (RHA) and activated carbon (AC) in different ratios have been made to find the best results from 0.68-0.72 V, which increases by 8-20%, measuring each sample after 3 days. In this study, another attempt was made to replace the graphite cathode of a dry cell with a mixture of AC and RHA. Voltage drop is quite negligible for the mixture of 10% RHA. The resulting voltage is similar to the new 100% activated carbon battery as a cathode. If considering the environmental effect, using recycled activated carbon and rice husk ash will decrease pollution and open a new door to apply in primary cells.

Synthesis and Unique Behaviors of High-Purity HEA Nanoparticles Using Femtosecond Laser Ablation.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of metal alloys consisting of four or more molar equal or near-equal elements. HEA nanomaterials have garnered significant interest due to their wide range of applications, such as electrocatalysis, welding, and brazing. Their unique multi-principle high-entropy effect allows for the tailoring of the alloy composition to facilitate specific electrochemical reactions. This study focuses on the synthesis of high-purity HEA nanoparticles using the method of femtosecond laser ablation synthesis in liquid. The use of ultrashort energy pulses in femtosecond lasers enables uniform ablation of materials at significantly lower power levels compared to longer pulse or continuous pulse lasers. We investigate how various femtosecond laser parameters affect the morphology, phase, and other characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles. An innovative aspect of our solution is its ability to rapidly generate multi-component nanoparticles with a high fidelity as the input multi-component target material at a significant yielding rate. Our research thus focuses on a novel synthesis of high-entropy alloying CuCoMn1.75NiFe0.25 nanoparticles. We explore the characterization and unique properties of the nanoparticles and consider their electrocatalytic applications, including high power density aluminum air batteries, as well as their efficacy in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Additionally, we report a unique nanowire fabrication phenomenon achieved through nanojoining. The findings from this study shed light on the potential of femtosecond laser ablation synthesis in liquid (FLASiL) as a promising technique for producing high-purity HEA nanoparticles.