Hindered aluminum plating and stripping in urea/NMA/Al(OTF)3 as a Cl-free electrolyte for Al batteries

However, such corrosiveness impacts the stability of all cell parts, thus hampering the real application of aluminum-metal batteries. The urea/NMA/Al(OTF)3 electrolyte is a non-corrosive alternative to the conventional [EMImCl]: AlCl3 ionic liquid electrolyte (ILE).

Unfortunately, this electrolyte demonstrates poor Al plating/stripping, probably because (being not corrosive) it cannot remove the Al2O3 passivation layer. This work proves that no plating/stripping occurs on the Al electrode despite modifying the Al surface. We highlight how urea/NMA/Al(OTF)3 electrolyte and the state of the Al electrode surface impact the interphase layer formation and, consequently, the likelihood and reversibility of Al plating/stripping.