A Review of Al Alloy Anodes for Al-Air Batteries in Neutral and Alkaline Aqueous Electrolytes

doi:10.1007/s40195-020-01140-x

Abstract

Abstract:

Aluminum-air (Al-air) batteries are promising candidates for energy storage applications because of their high theoretical energy density and low cost. Nevertheless, their developments have been severely hindered by multiple obstacles, among which the activation and self-corrosion inhibition of Al anode have been considered to be significant challenges. In neutral electrolytes, the main problem is the activation of Al anode, while the self-corrosion of Al anode becomes dominant in alkaline electrolytes. Considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming the dilemma associated with the Al anode. This review firstly underscores the underlying mechanisms of passivation and self-corrosion of Al anode in different electrolytes. Then, specific attentions are paid to Al alloy anode, including the role of various elements and standard processing technology. Finally, general conclusions, current limitations, and future perspectives on Al alloy anode are presented.

Key words: Al-air battery, Al alloy, Electrolyte, Corrosion inhibition, Activation

Pengfei Wu, Shengan Wu, Dan Sun, Yougen Tang, Haiyan Wang. A Review of Al Alloy Anodes for Al-Air Batteries in Neutral and Alkaline Aqueous Electrolytes[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2021, 34(3): 309-320.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 The "field stimulate" mechanism

Fig. 3 The "eutectic" mechanism

Fig. 4 Typical 3D-MLM images of the corroded surface of a Al-Sn, b Al-Mg-Sn alloys, c open-circuit potential (OCP) curves, d Tafel plots of the pure Al(4N6), Al-Mg, Al-Sn, Al-Mg-Sn alloys. Reproduced with permission from Ref.[48]. Copyright 2019, Elsevier B.V

Fig. 5 Corrosion morphologies of a pure Al, b Al-Ga, c Al-In, d Al-Sn alloys immersed in 1 M KOH solutions for 1 h at OCP; hydrogen evolution rates e and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy plots f of pure Al, Al-Ga, Al-In, and Al-Sn alloys. Reproduced with permission from Ref.[57]. Copyright 2015, The Electrochemical Society

Fig. 6 a Corrosion potentials of alloys Al-0.1Ga-0.005 Pb, Al-0.1Ga in acidified synthetic seawater (Reproduced with permission from Ref [70]. Copyright 2017, Elsevier Ltd.), b discharge behavior of Al-air battery based on alloy 1 (Al-0.5Mg-0.1Sn-0.02In), alloy 2 (Al-0.5Mg-0.1Sn-0.02Ga), alloy 3 (Al-0.5Mg-0.1Sn-0.02In-0.1Si), alloy 4 (Al-0.5Mg-0.1Sn-0.02Ga-0.1Si) in 4 M NaOH solution at current densities of 20 mA cm-2 for 5 h. Reproduced with permission from Ref.[61]. Copyright 2016, The Electrochemical Society

Fig. 7 Scanning electron microscope images of different alloys after discharge at 20 mA cm-2 for 6 h: a the as-cast Al-0.02Sb alloy; b Al-0.02Sb alloy heat-treated for 3 h; c Al-0.02Sb alloy heat-treated for 6 h; d Al-0.02Sb alloy heat-treated for 9 h, respectively. Reproduced with permission from Ref.[72]. Copyright 2019, ASM International

Fig. 8 Electron backscattered diffraction and backscattered electron image analyses of the as-cast and as-rolled Al-0.5Mg-0.1Sn-0.05Ga-0.05In alloys: a, c the as-cast, b, d the as-rolled. Reproduced with permission from Ref.[74]. Copyright 2017, The Authors

References 75

[1]	B. Xu, S. Qi, M. Jin, X. Cai, L. Lai, Z. Sun, X. Han, Z. Lin, H. Shao, P. Peng, Z. Xiang, J.E. Ten Elshof, R. Tan, C. Liu, Z. Zhang, X. Duan, J. Ma, Chin. Chem. Lett. 30, 2053 (2019)
[2]	R. Rajagopalan, Y. Tang, X. Ji, C. Jia, H. Wang, Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 1909486(2020) DOI URL
[3]	Z. Wei, B. Ding, H. Dou, J. Gascon, X. Kong, Y. Xiong, B. Cai, R. Zhang, Y. Zhou, M. Long, J. Miao, Y. Dou, D. Yuan, J. Mater. Chin. Chem. Lett. 30, 2110 (2019)
[4]	H. Wang, D.Y.C. Leung, M.K.H. Leung, Appl. Energy 90, 100 (2012)
[5]	C.T. Driscoll, W.D. Schecher, Environ. Geochem. Health 12, 28 (1990) URL PMID
[6]	Y. Li, H. Dai, Chem. Soc. Rev. 43, 5143(2014)
[7]	J. Li, J. Chen, H. Wan, J. Xiao, Y. Tang, M. Liu, H. Wang, Appl. Catal. B 242, 209 (2019)
[8]	J. Li, L. Fu, J. Luan, H. Xie, F. Cheng, Y. Tang, H. Wang, J. Electrochem. Soc. 165, A3766(2018)
[9]	H. Abe, Y. Hirai, S. Ikeda, Y. Matsuo, H. Yabu, NPG Asia Mater. 11, 1(2019)
[10]	H. Jin, C. Guo, X. Liu, J. Liu, A. Vasileff, Y. Jiao, Y. Zheng, S. Qiao, Chem. Rev. 118, 6337(2018) DOI URL PMID
[11]	F. Li, J. Li, Q. Feng, J. Yan, Y. Tang, H. Wang, J. Energy Chem. 27, 419(2018)
[12]	Y. Wang, J. Hao, J. Yu, H. Yu, K. Wang, X. Yang, J. Li, W. Li, J. Energy Chem. 45, 119(2020)
[13]	M. Jiang, C. Fu, J. Yang, Q. Liu, J. Zhang, B. Sun, Energy Storage Mater. 18, 34(2018)
[14]	Q. Kang, T. Zhang, X. Wang, Y. Wang, X. Zhang, J. Power Sources 443, 227251 (2019)
[15]	H. Jiang, S. Yu, W. Li, Y. Yang, L. Yang, Z. Zhang, J. Power Sources 448, 227460 (2020)
[16]	H. Zhou, Z. Qian, M. Zhou, X. Liu, Y. Li, X. Zhang, Acta Metall. Sin. Engl. Lett. 33, 659(2020)
[17]	K.A. Yasakau, J. Tedim, M.L. Zheludkevich, R. Drumm, M. Shem, M. Wittmar, M. Veith, M.G.S. Ferreira, Corros. Sci. 58, 41(2012)
[18]	M.A. Deyab, Electrochim. Acta 244, 178 (2017)
[19]	S. Wu, Q. Zhang, D. Sun, J. Luan, H. Shi, S. Hu, Y. Tang, H. Wang, Chem. Eng. J. 383, 123162(2020)
[20]	Y. Liu, H. Zhang, Y. Liu, J. Li, W. Li, J. Power Sources 434, 226723 (2019)
[21]	E. Grishina, D. Gelman, S. Belopukhov, D. Starosvetsky, A. Groysman, Y. Ein-Eli, Chemsuschem 9, 2103 (2016) DOI URL PMID
[22]	D. Wang, D. Zhang, K. Lee, L. Gao, J. Power Sources 297, 464 (2015)
[23]	P. Katsoufis, V. Mylona, C. Politis, G. Avgouropoulos, P. Lianos, J. Power Sources 450, 227624 (2020)
[24]	B.J. Hopkins, Y. Shao-Horn, D.P. Hart, Science 362, 658 (2018) DOI URL PMID
[25]	P. Zhang, X. Liu, J. Xue, K. Jiang, J. Power Sources 451, 227806 (2020)
[26]	R. Ly, A.I. Karayan, K.T. Hartwig, H. Castaneda, Electrochim. Acta 308, 35 (2019)
[27]	R. Liang, Y. Su, X. Sui, D. Gu, G. Huang, Z. Wang, J. Solid State Electrochem. 23, 53(2019)
[28]	P. Goel, D. Dobhal, R.C. Sharma, J. Energy Storage 28, 101287 (2020)
[29]	Y. Liu, Q. Sun, W. Li, K.R. Adair, J. Li, X. Sun, Green Energy Environ. 2, 246(2017)
[30]	J. Bernard, M. Chatenet, F. Dalard, Electrochim. Acta 52, 86 (2006)
[31]	C. Wang, Y. Yu, J. Niu, Y. Liu, D. Bridges, X. Liu, J. Pooran, Y. Zhang, A. Hu, Appl. Sci. 9, 2787(2019)
[32]	J. Ryu, M. Park, J. Cho, Adv. Mater. 31, e1804784(2019) DOI URL PMID
[33]	D.M. Dražić, S.K. Zečević, R.T. Atanasoski, A.R. Despić, Electrochim. Acta 28, 751 (1983)
[34]	M.C. Reboul, P.H. Gimenez, I.J. Rameau, Corrosion 40, 366 (1984) DOI URL
[35]	Z. Li, L. Yi, Z. Liu, L. Yang, J. Su, Y. Chen, J. Electrochem. 3, 316(2001)
[36]	M. Yang, Y. Liu, Z. Shi, X. Lv, B. Liu, L. Sun, Corrosion 76, 366 (2020) DOI URL
[37]	J. Zhang, M. Klasky, B.C. Letellier, J. Nucl. Mater. 384, 175(2009)
[38]	Z. Wu, H. Zhang, C. Guo, J. Zou, K. Qin, C. Ban, H. Nagaumi, J. Solid State Electrochem. 23, 2483(2019)
[39]	Z. Wu, H. Zhang, K. Qin, J. Zou, K. Qin, C. Ban, J. Cui, H. Nagaumi, J. Mater. Sci. 55, 11545(2020)
[40]	J. Wloka, G. Bürklin, S. Virtanen, Electrochim. Acta 53, 2055 (2007)
[41]	X. Gu, J. Zhang, X. Fan, L. Zhang, Acta Metall. Sin. -Engl. Lett. 33, 327(2020)
[42]	J. Chu, T. Lin, G. Wang, H. Fang, D. Wang, Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 9, 312(2020)
[43]	J. Hunter, Dissertation (University of Oxford, Oxford, 1989)
[44]	J. Ma, J. Wen, J. Gao, Q. Li, Electrochim. Acta 129, 69 (2014)
[45]	Z. Wu, H. Zhang, J. Zou, K. Qin, C. Ban, J. Cui, H. Nagaumi, Effect of microstructure on discharge performance of Al-0.8Sn-0.05Ga-0.9Mg-1.0Zn (wt%) alloy as anode for seawater-activated battery. Mater. Corros. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/maco.202011663
[46]	J. Ma, F. Ren, G. Wang, Y. Xiong, Y. Li, J. Wen, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 42, 11654 (2017)
[47]	J. Ma, J. Wen, J. Gao, Q. Li, J. Power Sources 253, 419 (2014)
[48]	J. Ren, J. Ma, J. Zhang, C. Fu, B. Sun, J. Alloys Compd. 808, 151708(2019)
[49]	L. Fan, H. Lu, J. Leng, Z. Sun, J. Electrochem. Soc. 162, A2623(2015)
[50]	S. Gudić, J. Radošević, D. Krpan-Lisica, M. Kliškić, Electrochim. Acta 46, 2515 (2001)
[51]	D.R. Egan, C. Ponce De León, R.J.K. Wood, R.L. Jones, K.R. Stokes, F.C. Walsh, J. Power Sources 236, 293 (2013)
[52]	H. Lee, T.A. Listyawan, N. Park, G. Kim, I. Chang, Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. Green Technol. 7, 505(2020)
[53]	Y. Tang, L. Lu, H.W. Roesky, L. Wang, B. Huang, J. Power Sources 138, 313 (2004)
[54]	J.C. Muller, J.R. Galvele, Corros. Sci. 17, 995(1977)
[55]	L. Li, H. Liu, Y. Yan, H. Zhu, H. Fang, X. Luo, Y. Dai, K. Yu, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 44, 12073 (2019)
[56]	D.O. Flamini, S.B. Saidman, Mater. Chem. Phys. 136, 103(2012)
[57]	Z. Sun, H. Lu, L. Fan, Q. Hong, J. Leng, C. Chen, J. Electrochem. Soc. 162, A2116(2015)
[58]	S. Gudić, I. Smoljko, M. Kliškić, J. Alloys Compd. 505, 54(2010)
[59]	J.B. Bessone, D.O. Flamini, S.B. Saidman, Corros. Sci. 47, 95(2005)
[60]	J. Ma, J. Wen, H. Zhu, Q. Li, J. Power Sources 293, 592 (2015)
[61]	J. Ma, J. Wen, F. Ren, G. Wang, Y. Xiong, J. Electrochem. Soc. 163, A1759(2016)
[62]	H. Xiong, X. Yin, Y. Yan, Y. Dai, S. Fan, X. Qiao, K. Yu, J. Materi. Eng. Perform. 25, 3456(2016)
[63]	P. Ratchev, B. Verlinden, P. Van Houtte, Acta Metall. Mater. 43, 621(1995)
[64]	T. Xu, Z. Hu, C. Yao, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. 14, 2606(2019)
[65]	Z. Zhao, X. Chen, M. Hao, Energy 36, 2782 (2011)
[66]	Q. Wang, H. Miao, Y. Xue, S. Sun, S. Lia, Z. Liu, RSC Adv. 7, 25838(2017)
[67]	J.C. Walmsley, Ø. Sævik, B. Graver, R.H. Mathiesen, Y. Yu, K. Nisancioglu, J. Electrochem. Soc. 154, C28(2007)
[68]	H. Moghanni-Bavil-Olyaei, J. Arjomandi, M. Hosseini, J. Alloys Compd. 695, 2637(2017)
[69]	K. Kurt, S. Diplas, J.C. Walmsley, K. Nisancioglu, J. Electrochem. Soc. 160, C542(2013)
[70]	E. Senel, K. Nisancioglu, Corros. Sci. 131, 330(2018)
[71]	F. Eckermann, T. Suter, P.J. Uggowitzer, A. Afseth, P. Schmutz, Electrochim. Acta 54, 844 (2008) DOI URL
[72]	P. Zhang, X. Liu, J. Xue, Z. Wang, J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 28, 5476(2019)
[73]	M.R. Sovizi, M. Afshari, K. Jafarzadeh, J. Neshati, Ionics 23, 3073 (2017)
[74]	X. Yin, K. Yu, T. Zhang, H. Fang, H. Dai, H. Xiong, Y. Dai, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. 12, 4150(2017)
[75]	L. Fan, H. Lu, J. Leng, Electrochim. Acta 165, 22 (2015) DOI URL