Regulating solvation and interface chemistry enables advanced aluminum-air batteries

The main challenge for developing aqueous aluminum-air batteries with high mass-specific capacity depends on the inhibition of the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, a regulation strategy of solvation and interface chemistry has been proposed by introducing organic methylurea (MU) and inorganic stannous chloride (SnCl2) to the alkaline electrolyte, which can modulate the solvent structure and electrode/electrolyte interface and endow the aqueous aluminum-air battery with an outstanding mass-specific capacity of 2625 mA h g(-1) at 50 mA cm(-2).

Automated summary

To solve the challenge of hydrogen evolution reaction, researchers have proposed a strategy of regulating solvation and interface chemistry by introducing organic methylurea (MU) and inorganic stannous chloride (SnCl2) to the alkaline electrolyte. This strategy can modulate the solvent structure and electrode/electrolyte interface, enabling the aqueous aluminum-air battery to achieve an outstanding mass-specific capacity of 2625 mA h g(-1) at 50 mA cm(-2).