Ultra-fast charging in aluminum-ion batteries: electric double layers on active anode

Authors

Xuejing Shen, Dalian University of Technology,
Tao Sun, Dalian University of Technology,
Lei Yang, Dalian University of Technology
Alexey Krasnoslobodtsev, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Renat F. Sabirianov, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Michael P. Sealy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Wai-Ning Mei, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Zhanjun Wu, Dalian University of TechnologyFollow
Li Tan, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Xuejing Shen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2577-8033

Lei Yang http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5318-0821

Zhanjun Wu http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6826-8626

Li Tan http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1510-6476

Date of this Version

2021

Citation

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021) 12:820

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21108-4

Comments

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,

Abstract

With the rapid iteration of portable electronics and electric vehicles, developing high-capacity batteries with ultra-fast charging capability has become a holy grail. Here we report rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries capable of reaching a high specific capacity of 200 mAh g^−1. When liquid metal is further used to lower the energy barrier from the anode, fastest charging rate of 10⁴ C (duration of 0.35 s to reach a full capacity) and 500% more specific capacity under high-rate conditions are achieved. Phase boundaries from the active anode are believed to encourage a high-flux charge transfer through the electric double layers. As a result, cationic layers inside the electric double layers responded with a swift change in molecular conformation, but anionic layers adopted a polymer-like configuration to facilitate the change in composition.