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John O | September 2018

New study demonstrates a novel catalyst for high-energy, aluminum-airflow batteries


By Josh Perry, Editor
[email protected]

 

Scientists at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have demonstrated a new type of aluminum-airflow battery for electric vehicles that has higher energy density, longer cycle life, and enhanced safety than standard lithium-ion batteries.

 


Researchers developed a new type of aluminum-air flow battery, which is more energy efficient than the existing LIBs. (UNIST)

 

According to a report from UNIST, aluminum-airflow batteries are primary cells, which does not allow them to be charged through typical means. “When applied to EVs, it will produce electricity by simply replacing the aluminum plate and electrolyte,” the article said. “Considering the actual energy density of gasoline and aluminum of the same weight, aluminum is superior.”

 

The aluminum-airflow battery demonstrated energy densities as high as 2,500 Wh/kg (significantly higher than gasoline’s 1,700 Wh/kg), which has the potential for an EV that can drive up to 700 km.

 

“The new battery works much like metal-air batteries, as it produces electricity from the reaction of oxygen in the air with aluminum,” the article explained. “Metal–air batteries, especially aluminum-air batteries, have attracted much attention as the next-generation battery due to their energy density, which is higher than that of LIBs. Indeed, batteries that use aluminum, a lightweight metal, are lighter, cheaper, and have a greater capacity than a traditional LIB (lithium-ion battery).”

 

Aluminum-airflow batteries were previously hampered by high anode cost and byproduct removal with traditional electrolytes. To overcome these challenges, researchers created a silver nanoparticle seed-mediated silver manganate nanoplate architecture for the reduction reaction (ORR).

 

“They discovered that the silver atom can migrate into the available crystal lattice and rearrange manganese oxide structure, thus creating abundant surface dislocations,” the article continued.

 

The research was recently published in Nature Communications. The abstract read:

 

“Aluminum–air batteries are promising candidates for next-generation high-energy-density storage, but the inherent limitations hinder their practical use. Here, we show that silver nanoparticle-mediated silver manganate nanoplates are a highly active and chemically stable catalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline media.

 

“By means of atomic-resolved transmission electron microscopy, we find that the formation of stripe patterns on the surface of a silver manganate nanoplate originates from the zigzag atomic arrangement of silver and manganese, creating a high concentration of dislocations in the crystal lattice. This structure can provide high electrical conductivity with low electrode resistance and abundant active sites for ion adsorption.

 

“The catalyst exhibits outstanding performance in a flow-based aluminum–air battery, demonstrating high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of ~2552 Wh kgAl−1 and ~6890 Wh lAl−1 at 100 mA cm−2, as well as high stability during a mechanical recharging process.”

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