h-MoO3/AlCl3-Urea/Al: High performance and low-cost rechargeable Al-ion battery

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2021-12, Vol.516, p.230656, Article 230656
• Main Authors: Almodóvar, Paloma, Giraldo, David, Díaz-Guerra, Carlos, Ramírez-Castellanos, Julio, González Calbet, José María, Chacón, Joaquín, López, María Luisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al-ion battery; h-MoO3; Rechargeable battery; Urea
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230656

A completely functional rechargeable aluminium – ion battery (AIB) operating at room temperature based on hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO3) as positive electrode active material and AlCl3-Urea as electrolyte has been developed. This is the first demonstration of the compatibility between a metal oxide and a urea based electrolyte in an AIB. Our battery shows a good electrochemical performance by using this low-cost, eco-friendly, positive electrode - electrolyte system with low corrosion properties. Thanks to an exhaustive study carried out by using different characterization techniques (XRD, micro-Raman, CV), it has been observed that h-MoO3 is capable of efficiently inserting and de-inserting the redox active species in its crystalline structure by means of controlled diffusion processes. When combined with a suitable amount of carbon nanotubes, the capacitive properties of this material are enhanced, obtaining batteries with a pseudo-capacitive behaviour. This battery reaches specific capacity values ∼100 mA h g−1 at current densities of 100 mA g−1 and ∼45 mA h g−1 at current densities of 500 mA g−1, always with efficiencies higher than 90%. The obtained results pave the way for the commercialisation of these energy storage devices, providing a promising and simple strategy for the development of high performance, low-cost and non-corrosive AIBs. [Display omitted] •Al-ion rechargeable battery based on h-MoO3 and AlCl3/urea has been developed.•CNTs addition in the electrode leads to high efficiency and stable batteries.•Compatibility of cheap non-corrosive electrolyte to foster the development of AIBs.