Electronics

Flexible, fast-charging aluminum-ion battery offers safer alternative to lithium-ion

The prototype aluminum-ion battery is fast-recharging, flexible and safe (Photo: Stanford University)
The prototype aluminum-ion battery is fast-recharging, flexible and safe (Photo: Stanford University)

Researchers at Stanford University have created a fast-charging and long-lasting rechargeable battery that is inexpensive to produce, and which they claim could replace many of the lithium-ion and alkaline batteries powering our gadgets today. The prototype aluminum-ion battery is also safer, not bursting into flames as some of its lithium-ion brethren are wont to do.

The prototype battery features an anode made of aluminum, a cathode of graphite and an ionic liquid electrolyte, all packed within a flexible, polymer-coated pouch. And unlike lithium-ion batteries, which can short circuit and explode or catch fire when punctured, the aluminum-ion battery will actually continue working for a short while before not bursting into flames.

"The electrolyte is basically a salt that's liquid at room temperature, so it's very safe," said Stanford graduate student Ming Gong, co-lead author of the study.

Improved safety is great, but what many people want is a reduction in recharge times. The aluminum-ion battery hits the target here, too, with the Stanford team claiming "unprecedented charging times" of just one minute for recharging the prototype battery.

What about durability? The aluminum-ion battery has you covered there, too. Unlike typical lithium-ion batteries that last around 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, or other aluminum-ion battery lab attempts that usually died after just 100 cycles, the Stanford researchers claim their battery stood up to 7,500 cycles without a loss of capacity. This would make it attractive for storing renewable energy on the electrical grid.

"The grid needs a battery with a long cycle life that can rapidly store and release energy," team member Hongjie Dai explains. "Our latest unpublished data suggest that an aluminum battery can be recharged tens of thousands of times. It's hard to imagine building a huge lithium-ion battery for grid storage."

The experimental battery also has the added advantage of flexibility, which gives the technology the potential to find applications in the burgeoning field of flexible electronics.

Furthermore, the researchers point out that aluminum is a cheaper metal than lithium, and the aluminum-ion technology offers an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable AA and AAA alkaline batteries used to power millions of portable devices.

Currently, one of the prototype battery's biggest shortcomings is its voltage. Although Dai points out it is more than anyone else has achieved with aluminum, the battery only generates around two volts of electricity, which is around half that of a typical lithium-ion battery. However, the researchers are confident they can improve on this.

"Improving the cathode material could eventually increase the voltage and energy density," says Dai. "Otherwise, our battery has everything else you'd dream that a battery should have: inexpensive electrodes, good safety, high-speed charging, flexibility and long cycle life. I see this as a new battery in its early days. It's quite exciting."

The team's work is detailed in a paper published in the online edition of Nature and the battery can be seen in action in the video below.

Source: Stanford University

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15 comments
Joel Detrow
Without a satisfactory energy density, this battery tech will go nowhere. Every single article about this new Al-Ion battery leaves out a comparison of energy density between this new tech and typical Li-Ion. I have a strong suspicion that the reason is its energy density is terrible and no reasonable amount of improvement to the cathode could possibly bring it up to Li-Ion density while still being comparably cheap or easy to manufacture.
Joep Swaggermaker
So what is te problem with the voltage being on the low side? Can't they just being wired (more) in series to overcome this?
Jérémy Henriquel
You're right Joel, I've read their paper and the energy density is a meager 40 Wh/kg which is 3 to 4 times less than any Li-ion battery.
Also, they couldn"t compete with lithium's voltage because the reduction potential of the reaction Al+ + 3 e- = Al at the cathode is 1.7V against the reaction Li+ + e- = Li, which has a reduction potential of 3.04 V. This means that the maximum voltage is two times lower than lithium-ion.
Finally, they use a ionic liquid which is expensive and most are quite toxic.
Bernd Kohler
With the development of a better cathode the voltage drop can be perhaps solved. The energy density from Al is not this height. So what, but look at the persons who have developed the device and from where the are originally. Only one American is in the group of 7. What is going on? This bothers my more.
Bob
A quick charging battery is only half the solution since you would also need a battery charger and connection that could handle the current and dissipate the heat. A low density battery will only be useful if it is very large and cheap. The promise of an aluminum battery has been around for years but handling the byproducts or keeping the battery from poisoning itself has been a problem. If the claim holds up, one that could be recharged this many times would be a breakthrough.
Mirmillion
Jeeez, sounds like everything other than L-ion falls incredibly short in one or more critical areas. Why don't we just connect a row of potatoes to an electric motor...
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is neat. With lower cost and less chance for fire and being bendable, I can see a future for this battery.
steveraxx
I am thankful that none of the most regular negative, nothing-will-ever-work-and-that-is-a-stupid-idea guys is in charge of research and development anywhere!
DonGateley
If its cost can be made advantageous there are plenty of stationary applications for energy storage where it's advantages could far outweigh its disadvantages. You may not see one in your phone but in sheds in every town and city instead. In the Midwest for example the cornfield at the edge of every small town would provide ideal land use for distributed storage.
kellory
I think home solar off grid or grid tied systems would welcome such a battery.