Project R-16348

High-temperature electrochemical measurement and reaction mechanism for molten salt aluminum-sulfur batteries (Research)

Novel rechargeable aluminum-sulfur batteries have gradually emerged as a futuristic technology for large-scale energy storage due to their outstanding resource advantages and high theoretical capacity. Aluminum is abundant and widely distributed, with a crustal abundance of 8.1%, far exceeding that of lithium and sodium, resulting in low raw material costs and high supply security. Aluminum possesses a trivalent charge characteristic, enabling a theoretical specific capacity of up to 2,980 mAh g⁻¹, significantly surpassing that of lithium and sodium. Therefore, the development of high-performance rechargeable Al-S batteries holds significant strategic importance for constructing low-cost, high-safety, long-life large-scale energy storage systems. However, challenges such as aluminum deposition dendrite formation, low Coulombic efficiency, sluggish sulfur conversion kinetics at medium-to-low temperatures, and capacity decay due to polysulfide dissolution and shuttling in the electrolyte remain unresolved. The underlying mechanisms are still unclear and require in-depth investigation. In this regard, this collaborative project aims to systematically explore the electrochemical reaction mechanisms and transport phenomena in Al-S batteries, providing a solid foundation for developing high-performance, long-life energy storage devices.

01 January 2026 - 31 December 2027