Energy storage Aluminum-Polymer Battery: An Alternative to the Lithium-Ion Battery

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A research team from TU Bergakademie Freiberg has developed an aluminum battery consisting of aluminum as the anode, graphite as the cathode, and a novel polymer-based electrolyte developed at the university. This makes it an alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Wearing long black rubber gloves, Amir Mohammad reaches into a glovebox to open a container with a honey-colored polymer. Using a spatula, he carefully applies it to a thin aluminum foil. Finally, he coats the aluminum foil with the polymer in a so-called calender with heated rollers. "This is already two-thirds of the battery," explains Amir Mohammad. The aluminum foil serves as the anode, while the polymer layer forms the electrolyte. Combined with a graphite cathode, a single cell is created for the prototype of the aluminum-polymer battery. The first prototype, consisting of a so-called "stack" with 10 cells, will be able to store about 1 watt-hour (Wh) of energy.

Advancement to a storage capacity of 10 kilowatt-hours

Now, the funding from the Saxon Development Bank within the framework of the validation promotion program of the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs takes battery development to the next level: "The goal of further development is a storage capacity of 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which corresponds to the average daily production of a photovoltaic system on the roof of a single-family home," explains the research associate at the Institute for Experimental Physics. This makes the novel aluminum-polymer battery an option for use as a stationary power storage, especially in private photovoltaic systems.

Gallery

Polymer solid electrolyte ensures efficient production

The team pays special attention to the electrolyte solution between the anode and cathode: "For this purpose, we have developed a polymer electrolyte based on an ionic liquid. It consists of a mixture of triethylamine hydrochloride and aluminum chloride, which together with polyamide forms a solid network. Compared to traditional liquid electrolytes, this solid electrolyte offers numerous advantages: it cannot leak, is resistant to moisture and oxygen, and reduces corrosion. Additionally, it replaces the usual separator layer, making the battery safer and more cost-effective to manufacture," explains project member Oliver Schmidt.

As the next step, the team is testing the processing of materials and the production of the aluminum-polymer battery in a so-called roll-to-roll manufacturing facility. By the end of 2025, the two researchers expect reliable results for the utilization of their innovative battery prototypes.

The aluminum-polymer battery is a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which my team has been intensively researching for about ten years.

Prof. Dr. Dirk C. Meyer

Energy storage: What comes after lithium?

"For the electrification and thus the flexibility of energy-intensive technologies, we need new energy storage systems," explains Prof. Dr. Dirk C. Meyer, Director of the Institute for Experimental Physics and spokesperson for the Center for Efficient High-Temperature Material Conversion (ZeHS https//tu-freiberg.de/zehs) at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. "The aluminum-polymer battery is a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which my team has been intensively researching for about ten years and is now being evaluated for industrial production and application."