Interface Engineering for Aqueous Aluminum Metal Batteries: Current Progresses and Future Prospects

Aqueous aluminum metal batteries (AMBs) have attracted numerous attention because of the abundant reserves, low cost, high theoretical capacity, and high safety. Nevertheless, the poor thermodynamics stability of metallic Al anode in aqueous solution, which is caused by the self-corrosion, surface passivation, or hydrogen evolution reaction, dramatically limits the electrochemical performance and hampers the further development of AMBs. In this comprehensive review, the key scientific challenges of Al anode/electrolyte interface (AEI) are highlighted. A systematic overview is also provided about the recent progress on the rational interface engineering principles toward a relatively stable AEI. Finally, suggestions and perspectives for future research are offered on the optimization of Al anode and aqueous electrolytes to enable a stable and durable AEI, which may pave the way for developing high-performance AMBs.

Automated summary

This review emphasizes the importance of aqueous aluminum metal batteries (AMBs) and identifies the instability of the aluminum anode/electrolyte interface (AEI) as the main challenge to the further development of AMBs. The review also provides a systematic overview of recent progress in rational interface engineering principles and offers suggestions and perspectives for optimizing the aluminum anode and aqueous electrolytes to enable a stable and durable AEI.