Performance of Al-0.5 Mg-0.02 Ga-0.1 Sn-0.5 Mn as Anode for Al-Air Battery

In this research, Al-air battery based on Al-0.5 Mg-0.02 Ga-0.1 Sn-0.5 Mn anode with industrial 2N8 aluminum was prepared, the corrosion behavior and the battery performance were investigated in 2 molL(-1) NaCl, 4 molL(-1) NaOH, 4 molL(-1) NaOH + 0.2 molL(-1) ZnO, 7 molL(-1) KOH and 7 molL(-1) KOH + 0.2 molL(-1) ZnO solutions. The results show that compared with in alkaline solutions, the alloy has higher electrochemical performance and lower self-corrosion rate in 2 molL(-1) NaCl, the corrosion potential and the self-corrosion rate of the alloy in 2 molL(-1) NaCl are -1.401 V (vs Hg/HgO) and 0.0008 cm year(-1), respectively. At a current density of 20 mAcm(-2), the operate voltage of Al-air battery is 1.116 V, and the anodic utilization rate is 83.7% in 2 molL(-1) NaCl. The morphology after discharge is passivity attributed to the surface hydroxide layer on the alloy in 2 molL(-1) NaCl. The high anodic utilization during discharge in 2 molL(-1) NaCl is partially responsible for the higher Rt, which is well validated by EIS measurement. (C) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.