The Roles of V2O5 and Stainless Steel in Rechargeable Al-Ion Batteries

Electrochemical cells based on a V2O5 composite cathode, aluminum anode, and AlCl3 + 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid electrolyte were prepared and characterized to ascertain the role of V2O5. The V2O5 was found to be electrochemically inactive in a potential window of 5 mV to 1.5 V vs. Al/Al3+. The electrochemical behavior of the cells was found to be independent of the V2O5 and depend entirely on the stainless steel used as a current collector, thus showing stainless steel and V2O5 to be of limited use in this electrolyte. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.