The electrochemical behavior of an aluminum alloy anode for rechargeable Al-ion batteries using an AlCl3–urea liquid electrolyte

Abstract

Due to its characteristics of high capacity, low cost, being non-flammable, and involving a three-electron-redox reaction, the aluminum rechargeable battery has received wide attention. Because of these advantages, we focus on a low-cost aluminum alloy anode and detect the discharge/charge reaction mechanism in the aluminum chloride-urea liquid electrolyte at 110–130 °C. The discharge voltage of the battery is about 1.9 V and 1.6 V, and at the current density of 100 mA g⁻¹ the cell can produce a specific capacity of ∼94 mA h g⁻¹. Compared to the pure aluminum anode, the system has a promising future for high efficiency, low-cost energy storage devices.