Basic Research Of The Aluminum-air Battery

Abstract:Currently, aluminum-air battery research still faces some problems. Firstly, aluminum-air battery electrochemistry lacks of basic research work; Secondly, current batteries is integrated structure, which leads to a negative impact to the aluminum electrode by oxygen diffusion; Thirdly, the reason of aluminum-air battery electromotive force always lower than the theoretical value is not clear. and the theory of aluminum cathode discharge theory in aluminum-water system is not very clear. To solve above problems, these works has been done:1) Study of Air cathode:First of all, added anion exchange membrane into air cathode structure, the result showed that the interference of oxygen in the electrolyte solution used to diffuse the aluminum anode potential was excluded; Secondly, three different materials were tested as an air cathode current collector, the result showed that the battery which use the carbon felt as the air electrode current collector have best performance; Finally, had compared the degree of air cathode and aluminum anode deviation from the theoretical, the result show that the reasons of the battery electromotive force far below the theoretical battery electromotive force is aluminum anode serious polarization.2) Study of aluminum anode:First of all, investigated changes of aluminum anode potential during aluminum anode surface oxide film be removed before and after, the results show that, there were little changes have being take place, it said that aluminum anode surface oxide film was not the reason for electrode polarization of aluminum anode; Secondly, had discussed the impact of electrochemical corrosion to aluminum electrode potential, so put forward the theory that electrochemical corrosion will lead to Potential polarization in Al-H2O system, the results show that, the theory match the actual, the reason of polarization to aluminum anode is cause by electrochemical corrosion of aluminum in water; Finally, have complemented the experimental about determination of aluminum stable potential in Neutral electrolyte solution.3) Study of overall aluminum-air batteries:have assembled overall aluminum-air batteries with air electrode which equipped with practical prototype caustic, the discharge test results of this battery shows that: battery potential decreased rapidly, the possible reasons may be active substances in electrode was not stimulated, this situation can cause electrode polarization; after0.5h, the discharge capacity of the battery is0.502mAh.