Stanford Researchers Tout Fast-Charging Aluminum-Ion Battery

Scientists at Stanford University say they have developed the first high-performance aluminum battery, which they say might eventually replace alkaline and lithium-ion batteries.

The research team published details about its aluminum-ion design this week in an article titled An Ultrafast Rechargeable Aluminum-Ion Battery in the online edition of Nature.

The aluminum-ion battery consists of a negatively charge aluminum anode, positively charged 3-D graphite-foam cathode and an ionic liquid electrolyte inside a flexible polymer-coated pouch. The configuration is fireproof, relatively easy to recycle and cheaper than lithium-based chemistries, according to the team.

The prototype Stanford battery can be fully recharged in about one minute. Developers note the battery's flexible construction would enable it to be used in flexible electronic devices.

The new battery has withstood more than 7,500 cycles in lab tests without any loss of capacity. That compares with about 100 cycles for aluminum batteries developed elsewhere and about 1,000 cycles for a typical lithium-ion battery.

The experimental battery generates about two volts of electricity. That's more than other aluminum batteries but only about half that of a lithium-ion battery. The Stanford researchers say improved cathode materials may be able to boost voltage and energy density.