Rechargeable aluminum batteries utilizing a chloroaluminate inorganic ionic liquid electrolyte

Influence of Resorcinol to Sodium Carbonate Ratio on Carbon Xerogel Properties for Aluminium Ion Battery

Carbon xerogels were synthesized using a soft-template route with resorcinol as the carbon source and sodium carbonate as the catalyst. The influence of the resorcinol to catalyst ratio in the range of 500–20,000 on pore structure, graphitic domains, and electronic conductivity of as-prepared carbon xerogels, as well as their performance in an aluminium ion battery (AIB), was investigated. After carbonization steps of the polymers up to 800 °C, all carbon samples exhibited similar specific volumes of micropores (0.7–0.8 cm³ g⁻¹), while samples obtained from mixtures with R/C ratios lower than 2000 led to carbon xerogels with significantly higher mesopore diameters up to 6 nm. The best results, in terms of specific surface (1000 m² g⁻¹), average pore size (6 nm) and reversible capacity in AIB cell (28 mAh g⁻¹ @ 0.1 A g⁻¹), were obtained with a carbon xerogel sample synthetized at a resorcinol to catalyst ratio of R/C = 500 (CXG₅₀₀). Though cyclic voltammograms of carbon xerogel samples did not exhibit any sharp peaks in the applied potential window, the presence of both oxidation and a quite wide reduction peak in CXG_500–2000 cyclic voltammograms indicated pseudocapacitance behaviour induced by diffusion-controlled intercalation/de-intercalation of AlCl₄⁻ ions into/from the carbon xerogel matrix. This was confirmed by shifting of the (002) peak towards lower 2θ angle values in the XRD pattern of the CXG₅₀₀ electrode after the charging step in AIB, whereas the contribution of pseudocapacitance, calculated from half-cell measurements, was limited to only 6% of overall capacitance.

Aluminum metal anode rechargeable batteries with sulfur-carbon composite cathodes and inorganic chloroaluminate ionic liquid

Promising sulfurized polyethylene glycol (SPEG) composite cathodes with a high-rate capability over 3000 mA g^-1 at 393 K are fabricated for Al metal anode rechargeable batteries with a 61.0-26.0-13.0 mol% AlCl₃-NaCl-KCl inorganic ionic liquid electrolyte. The combination of the SPEG composite cathodes and chloroaluminate inorganic IL can readily enhance the performance of the Al-S batteries, e.g., discharge capacity and cycle stability.

Recent Advance in Ionic-Liquid-Based Electrolytes for Rechargeable Metal-Ion Batteries

From basic research to industry process, battery energy storage systems have played a great role in the informatization, mobility, and intellectualization of modern human society. Some potential systems such as Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, and Al secondary batteries have attracted much attention to maintain social progress and sustainable development. As one of the components in batteries, electrolytes play an important role in the upgrade and breakthrough of battery technology. Since room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) feature high conductivity, nonflammability, nonvolatility, high thermal stability, and wide electrochemical window, they have been widely applied in various battery systems and show great potential in improving battery stability, kinetics performance, energy density, service life, and safety. Thus, it is a right time to summarize these progresses. In this review, the composition and classification of various ILs and their recent applications as electrolytes in diverse metal-ion batteries (Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al) are outlined to enhance the battery performances.

Carbon materials for ion-intercalation involved rechargeable battery technologies

The development of carbon electrode materials for rechargeable batteries is reviewed from the perspective of structural features, electrochemistry, and devices.

Inorganic AlCl3-alkali metal thiocyanate ionic liquids as electrolytes for electrochemical Al technologies

A series of inorganic AlCl₃-alkali metal thiocyanate (A_MSCN: A_M = Li, Na, K) ionic liquids (ILs) are demonstrated as electrolytes for Al electrodeposition and Al-anion rechargeable batteries (AARBs) at 303-363 K. Al deposits with a unique flake nanostructure are obtained in these electrolytes. The assembled AARBs show a stable cyclability over 250 cycles with a reversible capacity of ca. 70 mA h (g-graphite)^-1 at 363 K. These inorganic ILs inherit the advantages of conventional chloroaluminate ILs (applicability at near-ambient temperature) and molten salts (cost effectiveness), making them promising electrolyte candidates for industrializable electrochemical Al technologies.

Aluminum electrolytes for Al dual-ion batteries

In the search for sustainable energy storage systems, aluminum dual-ion batteries have recently attracted considerable attention due to their low cost, safety, high energy density (up to 70 kWh kg^-1), energy efficiency (80-90%) and long cycling life (thousands of cycles and potentially more), which are needed attributes for grid-level stationary energy storage. Overall, such batteries are composed of aluminum foil as the anode and various types of carbonaceous and organic substances as the cathode, which are immersed in an aluminum electrolyte that supports efficient and dendrite-free aluminum electroplating/stripping upon cycling. Here, we review current research pursuits and present the limitations of aluminum electrolytes for aluminum dual-ion batteries. Particular emphasis is given to the aluminum plating/stripping mechanism in aluminum electrolytes, and its contribution to the total charge storage electrolyte capacity. To this end, we survey the prospects of these stationary storage systems, emphasizing the practical hurdles of aluminum electrolytes that remain to be addressed.

Confining Al-Li alloys between pre-constructed conductive buffers for advanced aluminum anodes

An aluminum anode with pre-constructed two-layer conductive buffers was prepared to restrict the expanding Al-Li alloy inside, and provide continuous electron pathways for promising electrical contact. The full cell demonstrates superior cycling stability (0.0352% capacity decay per cycle for 400 cycles at 0.2C) and outstanding rate capability.

A novel storage design for ultrahigh-cell-voltage Al-ion batteries utilizing cation–π interactions

We propose a novel storage design for ultrahigh-cell-voltage Al-ion battery by utilizing cation–π interactions by means of density functional theory (DFT) computations.

A sub-100 °C aluminum ion battery based on a ternary inorganic molten salt

Using a ternary inorganic molten salt electrolyte, a sub-100 °C aluminum ion battery is presented with improved operational feasibility simply by water heating.