Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions

Rechargeable aluminum (Al) batteries (RABs) are promising electrochemical energy storage systems due to their claimed high safety standards, low cost, and lightweight materials. However, their application is limited by the corrosivity of the chloroaluminate ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, which is c...

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Main Authors: Eliana Fuentes‐Mendoza, Mahla Talari, Eugen Zemlyanushin, Rafael Cordoba, Noha Sabi, Sonia Dsoke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-05-01
Series:ChemElectroChem
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400705
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author Eliana Fuentes‐Mendoza
Mahla Talari
Eugen Zemlyanushin
Rafael Cordoba
Noha Sabi
Sonia Dsoke
author_facet Eliana Fuentes‐Mendoza
Mahla Talari
Eugen Zemlyanushin
Rafael Cordoba
Noha Sabi
Sonia Dsoke
author_sort Eliana Fuentes‐Mendoza
collection DOAJ
description Rechargeable aluminum (Al) batteries (RABs) are promising electrochemical energy storage systems due to their claimed high safety standards, low cost, and lightweight materials. However, their application is limited by the corrosivity of the chloroaluminate ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, which is currently the only type of electrolyte able to plate and strip Al efficiently. Despite there are several recent reviews discussing progress in the field of Al batteries, it is believed that it is also necessary to consider the challenges and the many failures often not presented in publications, which are required to further develop the technology. This review examines the technical challenges in developing RAB technologies, based on the direct experience of research group, emphasizing the critical role of selecting appropriate electrolytes, passive components, and cell setups for understanding and correctly assessing electrode material performance. RABs are still in their infancy and to build a comprehensive bibliography, technical challenges should be thoroughly documented and addressed. The authors aim to provide practical guidelines to help researchers and newcomers in the RAB field avoid common pitfalls and overcome the challenges that impede achieving the theoretical advantages of RABs.
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spelling doaj-art-01d2c2e5fb964d7a935ee8d3b36f543d2025-08-20T03:08:21ZengWiley-VCHChemElectroChem2196-02162025-05-011210n/an/a10.1002/celc.202400705Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future DirectionsEliana Fuentes‐Mendoza0Mahla Talari1Eugen Zemlyanushin2Rafael Cordoba3Noha Sabi4Sonia Dsoke5Institute for Applied Materials (IAM) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen GermanyInstitute for Applied Materials (IAM) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen GermanyInstitute for Applied Materials (IAM) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen GermanyInstitute for Applied Materials (IAM) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen GermanyHigh Throughput Multidisciplinary Research (HTMR) Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Lot 660 Hay Moulay Rachid Ben Guerir 43150 MoroccoDeartment of Electrical Energy Storage Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems Heidenhofstr. 2 79110 Freiburg GermanyRechargeable aluminum (Al) batteries (RABs) are promising electrochemical energy storage systems due to their claimed high safety standards, low cost, and lightweight materials. However, their application is limited by the corrosivity of the chloroaluminate ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, which is currently the only type of electrolyte able to plate and strip Al efficiently. Despite there are several recent reviews discussing progress in the field of Al batteries, it is believed that it is also necessary to consider the challenges and the many failures often not presented in publications, which are required to further develop the technology. This review examines the technical challenges in developing RAB technologies, based on the direct experience of research group, emphasizing the critical role of selecting appropriate electrolytes, passive components, and cell setups for understanding and correctly assessing electrode material performance. RABs are still in their infancy and to build a comprehensive bibliography, technical challenges should be thoroughly documented and addressed. The authors aim to provide practical guidelines to help researchers and newcomers in the RAB field avoid common pitfalls and overcome the challenges that impede achieving the theoretical advantages of RABs.https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400705aluminum batterieschallengesionic liquid electrolytespost‐lithium
spellingShingle Eliana Fuentes‐Mendoza
Mahla Talari
Eugen Zemlyanushin
Rafael Cordoba
Noha Sabi
Sonia Dsoke
Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
ChemElectroChem
aluminum batteries
challenges
ionic liquid electrolytes
post‐lithium
title Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
title_full Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
title_fullStr Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
title_full_unstemmed Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
title_short Navigating the Challenges of Rechargeable Aluminum Battery Research: Material Instabilities, Technical Hurdles, and Future Directions
title_sort navigating the challenges of rechargeable aluminum battery research material instabilities technical hurdles and future directions
topic aluminum batteries
challenges
ionic liquid electrolytes
post‐lithium
url https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400705
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