Aluminum-Air Battery Technologies and Performance

Aluminium–air batteries convert chemical energy by oxidising aluminium at the anode against oxygen at the cathode, yielding a theoretical energy density exceeding that of conventional lithium-ion systems. Their architecture typically comprises an aluminium anode, an air-breathing cathode with catalysts to facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction, and an aqueous or solid electrolyte to conduct ions. Core challenges include self-corrosion of the aluminium anode via the hydrogen evolution reaction, by-product accumulation on electrodes, electrolyte leakage and limited rechargeability. Recent innovations span advanced electrolyte formulations—quasi-solid-state gels, deep-eutectic solvents and dual-electrolyte configurations—to suppress parasitic reactions and improve cycle life. Concurrently, developments in cathode catalysts, from nanostructured metal oxides to non-oxide ceramics, aim to lower overpotential and sustain high current operation. Collectively, these efforts have translated into prototypes exhibiting energy densities above 4 kWh kg⁻¹, extended discharge capacities and improved stability in diverse conditions including low temperatures.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that atomic-scale reconstruction of silver-manganate nanoplates yields a high-performance catalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline aluminium–air flow batteries. The zigzag arrangement of silver and manganese atoms forms dislocations that enhance electronic conductivity and provide abundant active sites. When implemented in a flow cell, this catalyst achieved gravimetric and volumetric energy densities exceeding 2500 Wh kgAl⁻¹ and 6800 Wh lAl⁻¹, respectively, at moderate current densities, alongside mechanical recharging stability. This work exemplifies the potential of crystal-engineering strategies to overcome kinetic limitations in the cathode.

Aluminum-Air Battery Technologies and Performance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in aluminum-air battery technologies and performance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Anode: The negative electrode where aluminium undergoes oxidation, releasing electrons during discharge.

Cathode: The positive electrode where oxygen is reduced, consuming electrons to complete the circuit.

Electrolyte: A medium—liquid, gel or solid—that conducts ionic charge between the electrodes.

Energy density: The amount of electrical energy stored per unit mass of the battery.

Specific capacity: The charge delivered per unit mass of the active material, typically measured in mAh g⁻¹.

Quasi-solid-state electrolyte: A gel-like ion conductor that combines the safety of solids with the conductivity of liquids.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR): The electrochemical process at the cathode where O₂ molecules gain electrons to form hydroxide ions.

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER): A parasitic reaction at the anode in alkaline media whereby protons are reduced to hydrogen gas, leading to corrosion.

References

1. Recent Developments for Aluminum–Air Batteries. Electrochemical Energy Reviews (2020).
2. Quasi‐Solid‐State Aluminum–Air Batteries with Ultra‐high Energy Density and Uniform Aluminum Stripping Behavior. Advanced Science (2023).
3. Seed-mediated atomic-scale reconstruction of silver manganate nanoplates for oxygen reduction towards high-energy aluminum-air flow batteries. Nature Communications (2018).
4. All solid state rechargeable aluminum–air battery with deep eutectic solvent based electrolyte and suppression of byproducts formation. RSC Advances (2019).
5. Ethylene Glycol/Ethanol Anolyte for High Capacity Alkaline Aluminum-Air Battery With Dual-Electrolyte Configuration. Frontiers in Energy Research (2020).
6. Low-Temperature Performance of Al-air Batteries. Energies (2019).
7. Effect of Cerium Chloride on the Self-Corrosion and Discharge Activity of Aluminum Anode in Alkaline Aluminum-air Batteries. Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2022).
8. Suppression of byproduct accumulation in rechargeable aluminum–air batteries using non-oxide ceramic materials as air cathode materials. Sustainable Energy & Fuels (2017).
9. Polymer Electrolytes for Al-Air Batteries: Current State and Future Perspectives. Energy & Fuels (2022).