Publication date: 21st July 2025
Concerns related to future supply of critical materials for Li-ion Batteries (such as Li, Co and Ni) urge to intensify the discovery of alternative battery chemistries, which rely on more abundant materials. Among several options, rechargeable aluminum (Al) batteries (RABs) are promising sustainable electrochemical energy storage systems due to their claimed high safety standards, low cost, and lightweight materials. However, their application is limited by the corrosivity of the chloroaluminate IL-based electrolyte, which is currently the only type of electrolyte able to plate and strip Al efficiently.
This drawback opens several challenges for the choice of electrodes and cells components such as current collector, binder, separator, active materials etc. that should be compatible with the electrolyte [1]. This crucial issue urges to be overcome to advance Al batteries from simple scientific curiosity to real competitors in the realm of energy storage systems.
In this context, this presentation will give an overview of the current challenges and propose some solutions in terms of materials and combinations to advance the Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Technology.
This work contributes to the research performed at CELEST (Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm-Karlsruhe) and was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under Project ID 390874152 (POLiS Cluster of Excellence).