A rechargeable Al-ion battery: Al/molten AlCl3-urea/graphite.
A new Al-ion battery based on an affordable and nontoxic liquid electrolyte made from molten AlCl3/urea was assembled. As the cathode material, natural graphite shows two well-defined discharge voltage plateaus at about 1.9 and 1.5 V with a high specific capacity of 93 mA h g-1and excellent coulombic efficiency (>99%). The attractive capacity (about 78 mA h g-1) is retained even at a high current density of 1000 mA g-1. Moreover, no faster fading in capacity is observed after 500 cycles. This electrolyte could provide a new system for Al ion batteries, which can be used for large scale energy storage, owing to its cost advantages, high-rate capability and durability.
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. sjiao@ustb.edu.cn.
Handong
H
Jiao
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. sjiao@ustb.edu.cn.
Chen
C
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. sjiao@ustb.edu.cn.
Jiguo
J
Tu
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. sjiao@ustb.edu.cn.
Donghua
D
Tian
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China. sjiao@ustb.edu.cn.
Shuqiang
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9600-752X
S
Jiao