Highly Reversible Chevrel Phase Mo6Se8 Cathode with Low Voltage Hysteresis for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum (Al) batteries have attracted considerable interest as potential large-scale energy storage technologies due to the abundance, high theoretical capacity, and high safety of Al. We report here a highly reversible Al-Mo₆Se₈ prototype cell with low discharge-charge hysteresis (approximately 50 mV under 30 mA g^-1 at 50 °C), ultra-flat discharge plateau, and exceptional cycle stability: the reversible capacity retaining at a steady 77 mA h g^-1 after more than 1800 cycles. The Al intercalation-extraction mechanism is probed with ex situ and operando XRD techniques, revealing the reversible intercalation reaction from Mo₆Se₈ to Al_4/3Mo₆Se₈. The stable electrochemical performance and unambiguous intercalation mechanism of the Al-Mo₆Se₈ system provide an alternative for beyond-lithium battery technologies.

Tremella-like Vanadium Tetrasulfide as a High-Performance Cathode Material for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) are gaining widespread attention for large-scale energy storage applications as a result of their high energy densities, high security, and abundance. The key to sustain the progress of RABs lies in the quest for the proper cathode materials with prominent capacity and reversible cycle life. Herein, we propose a tremella-like VS₄ as a cathode material aiming to tackle this problem. Obtained from a morphology modification process, VS₄ with a unique nanosheet structure provides sufficient active sites for intercalation and conversion reactions, shortens the transport paths for charge carrier ions, and facilitates the infiltration process for electrolyte. The RAB with the VS₄ cathode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, including outstanding specific capacity (407.9 mAh g^-1) and stable cycling performance (∼300 cycles at a high current density). The energy storage mechanism has been comprehensively investigated and is confirmed to be a combination of the intercalation/deintercalation of Al³⁺ and AlCl₄^- ions and conversion reaction by various techniques and DFT calculation. Our study not only provides a peculiar and simple strategy for the rational design of metal sulfide cathode materials with high capacity and long-term stability but also proposes a specific energy storage mechanism that guides the development of cathode materials of RABs in the future.

Fast Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure Layered δ-MnO₂ for Multivalent Ion Intercalation

This work reports on the synthesis of layered manganese oxides (δ-MnO₂) and their possible application as cathode intercalation materials in Al-ion and Zn-ion batteries. By using a one-pot microwave-assisted synthesis route in 1.6 M KOH (Mn_VII:Mn_II = 0.33), a pure layered δ-MnO₂birnessite phase without any hausmannite traces was obtained after only a 14 h reaction time period at 110 °C. Attempts to enhance crystallinity level of as-prepared birnessite through increasing of reaction time up to 96 h in 1.6 M KOH failed and led to decreases in crystallinity and the emergence of an additional hausmannite phase. The influence of Mn_II:OH⁻ ratio (1:2 to 1:10) on phase crystallinity and hausmannite phase formation for 96 h reaction time was investigated as well. By increasing alkalinity of the reaction mixture up to 2.5 M KOH, a slight increase in crystallinity of birnessite phase was achieved, but hausmannite formation couldn’t be inhibited as hoped. The as-prepared layered δ-MnO₂ powder material was spray-coated on a carbon paper and tested in laboratory cells with Al or Zn as active materials. The Al-ion tests were carried out in EMIMCl/AlCl₃ while the Zn-Ion experiments were performed in water containing choline acetate (ChAcO) or a ZnSO₄ solution. Best performance in terms of capacity was yielded in the Zn-ion cell (200 mWh g⁻¹ for 20 cycles) compared to about 3 mAh g⁻¹ for the Al-ion cell. The poor activity of the latter system was attributed to low dissociation rate of tetrachloroaluminate ions (AlCl₄⁻) in the EMIMCl/AlCl₃ mixture into positive Al complexes which are needed for charge compensation of the oxide-based cathode during the discharge step.

Environmental Screening of Electrode Materials for a Rechargeable Aluminum Battery with an AlCl₃/EMIMCl Electrolyte

Recently, rechargeable aluminum batteries have received much attention due to their low cost, easy operation, and high safety. As the research into rechargeable aluminum batteries with a room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte is relatively new, research efforts have focused on finding suitable electrode materials. An understanding of the environmental aspects of electrode materials is essential to make informed and conscious decisions in aluminum battery development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the relative environmental performance of electrode material candidates for rechargeable aluminum batteries with an AlCl₃/EMIMCl (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte. To this end, we used a lifecycle environmental screening framework to evaluate 12 candidate electrode materials. We found that all of the studied materials are associated with one or more drawbacks and therefore do not represent a “silver bullet” for the aluminum battery. Even so, some materials appeared more promising than others did. We also found that aluminum battery technology is likely to face some of the same environmental challenges as Li-ion technology but also offers an opportunity to avoid others. The insights provided here can aid aluminum battery development in an environmentally sustainable direction.

High-Voltage and Noncorrosive Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Used in Rechargeable Aluminum Battery

As a promising post-lithium battery, rechargeable aluminum battery has the potential to achieve a three-electron reaction with fully use of metal aluminum. Alternative electrolytes are strongly needed for further development of rechargeable aluminum batteries, because typical AlCl₃-contained imidazole-based ionic liquids are moisture sensitive, corrosive, and with low oxidation voltage. In this letter, a kind of noncorrosive and water-stable ionic liquid obtained by mixing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BMIM]OTF) with the corresponding aluminum salt (Al(OTF)₃) is studied. This ionic liquid electrolyte has a high oxidation voltage (3.25 V vs Al³⁺/Al) and high ionic conductivity, and a good electrochemical performance is also achieved. A new strategy, which first used corrosive AlCl₃-based electrolyte to construct a suitable passageway on the Al anode for Al³⁺, and then use noncorrosive Al(OTF)₃-based electrolyte to get stable Al/electrolyte interface, is put forward.

Amorphous Vanadium Oxide/Carbon Composite Positive Electrode for Rechargeable Aluminum Battery

Amorphous vanadium oxide/carbon composite (V2O5/C) was first applied to the positive electrode active material for rechargeable aluminum batteries. Electrochemical properties of V2O5/C were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge tests. Reversible reduction/oxidation peaks were observed for the V2O5/C electrode and the rechargeable aluminum cell showed the maximum discharge capacity over 200 mAh g(-1) in the first discharging. The XPS analyses after discharging and the following charging exhibited that the redox of vanadium ion in the V2O5/C active material occurred during discharging and charging, and the average valence of V changed between 4.14 and 4.85.