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Rapid-charging aluminium-sulfur batteries operated at 85 °C with a quaternary molten salt electrolyte

Author

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  • Jiashen Meng

    (Peking University
    Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Xufeng Hong

    (Peking University)

  • Zhitong Xiao

    (Peking University)

  • Linhan Xu

    (Peking University)

  • Lujun Zhu

    (Peking University)

  • Yongfeng Jia

    (Peking University)

  • Fang Liu

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Liqiang Mai

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Quanquan Pang

    (Peking University)

Abstract

Molten salt aluminum-sulfur batteries are based exclusively on resourcefully sustainable materials, and are promising for large-scale energy storage owed to their high-rate capability and moderate energy density; but the operating temperature is still high, prohibiting their applications. Here we report a rapid-charging aluminium-sulfur battery operated at a sub-water-boiling temperature of 85 °C with a tamed quaternary molten salt electrolyte. The quaternary alkali chloroaluminate melt – possessing abundant electrochemically active high-order Al-Cl clusters and yet exhibiting a low melting point – facilitates fast Al3+ desolvation. A nitrogen-functionalized porous carbon further mediates the sulfur reaction, enabling the battery with rapid-charging capability and excellent cycling stability with 85.4% capacity retention over 1400 cycles at a charging rate of 1 C. Importantly, we demonstrate that the asymmetric sulfur reaction mechanism that involves formation of polysulfide intermediates, as revealed by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, accounts for the high reaction kinetics at such temperature wherein the thermal management can be greatly simplified by using water as the heating media.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiashen Meng & Xufeng Hong & Zhitong Xiao & Linhan Xu & Lujun Zhu & Yongfeng Jia & Fang Liu & Liqiang Mai & Quanquan Pang, 2024. "Rapid-charging aluminium-sulfur batteries operated at 85 °C with a quaternary molten salt electrolyte," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44691-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44691-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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