Rechargeable aluminum batteries are promising large-scale energy storage candidates due to the high natural earth abundance and high theoretical volumetric capacity of Al metal. However, they face many problems, including… Click to show full abstract
Rechargeable aluminum batteries are promising large-scale energy storage candidates due to the high natural earth abundance and high theoretical volumetric capacity of Al metal. However, they face many problems, including a limited lifetime, rate performance, and high electrolyte cost. Herein, we have designed a high-performance Al rechargeable battery using a graphite cathode and an economical AlCl3/Et3NHCl ionic liquid electrolyte. Based on the high conductivity of the AlCl3/Et3NHCl electrolyte, the battery achieved a reversible capacity of 96 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, which is even higher than that of the battery using an AlCl3/urea electrolyte (89 mAh g−1). Furthermore, almost no capacity attenuation was observed, with AlCl3/Et3NHCl electrolyte having a capacity of 64 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles, at 1000 mA g−1, while the AlCl3/urea electrolyte had a capacity of only 24 mAh g−1. Therefore, the aluminum/ graphite battery using AlCl3/Et3NHCl ionic liquid electrolyte with a high specific capacity and good long-term cycling stability is a promising candidate for future high-performance, large-scale energy storage devices.
               
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