A New Generation of Rechargeable Aluminum Ion Battery Technology

摘要

Due to their ideal properties such as high volumetric and gravimetric capacities, low cost, safety, and abundancy, aluminum ion batteries have received significant attention over the past decade as the next generation of energy storage devices. This study put the emphasis on developing a new generation of Al-ion battery made of pure aluminum as the anode, pyrolytic graphite sheet as the cathode and a low-cost aluminum chloride-urea ionic liquid analog in a 1.3:1 molar ratio as the electrolyte. Test results indicated two discharge voltage plateaus at 1.9V and 1.7-1.5V and a specific capacity of 40 mA h g~(-1) at a current density of 10 mA g~(-1). Through mechanistic investigations, we propose a two-pathway electrodeposition of aluminum, dominated by AlCl_2·(urea)_n~+ cations and subsequently by Al_2Cl_7~-. Future tests are underway to improve the capacity and cycle life of this newly developed battery.