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Rechargeable aluminium ion batteries (AIBs) are one of the potential metal battery alternatives to Li-ion batteries. A perfect pair of cathode and electrolyte is a key factor in developing a grid-scale Al ion battery. In this context, we evaluated a prototypical MWCNT and β-MnO2-20% composite (MWCNT/β-MnO2), in which β-MnO2 nanoparticles were grown on the surface of the MWCNT matrix by an ultra-sonication method followed by calcination at 400 °C and tested as a cathode system. The as-synthesized MWCNT/β-MnO2-20% cathode material was completely characterized by techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) to assess its composition and morphology. Its electrochemical performance was evaluated with the aid of various electroanalytical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). MWCNT/β-MnO2-20% as a cathode system in AlCl3/Et3NHCl ionic liquid electrolyte showed a current density of 100 mA g−1 and a discharge capacity of 269 mA h g−1, and the resultant aluminium storage was around 60 cycles with a coulombic efficiency of 90%. Interestingly, this superior rate capability of the composite is due to the interdependent interaction between the β-MnO2 particles and MWCNTs as revealed by XPS, FT-IR, XRD and EDS techniques, which provided evidence for an intercalation and de-intercalation of the AlCl4− ions into the cathode material during charge–discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low coulombic efficiency and mild conductivity have impeded the commercialization of sulfur-based batteries despite pairing with high energy density and low-cost aluminum anodes. In this study, we investigated cost-effective electrolyte confinement of the sulfur cathode to an Al/S@Gf battery, which employed a sulfur-graphite (S@Gf) cathode, an aluminum metal anode, and 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride (EMImCl):AlCl3 as an electrolyte. The Al/EMImCl:AlCl3/S@Gf battery exhibited remarkable performance in terms of rate capability and cycle life, delivering a high capacity of 1281 mA h g−1 at a current density of 300 mA g−1 with 90% coulombic efficiency (CE); additionally, it was stable at 800 mA g−1 withdrawing current. By employing an embedding technique to incorporate sulfur particles onto the graphite, we emulated previously observed glitches, such as capacity degradation and poor conductivity resulting in the accumulation of insoluble discharge products hindering ion diffusion. We demonstrated the potential of graphite to enhance the capability of holding sulfur for creating cells with repeatable, stable, and long-lasting charge storage features. This paper elucidates the interactions between carbon, sulfur, and aluminum electrolytes, and sheds light on their respective roles in the fundamental charge-storage process of aluminum–sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, battery‐powered direct current‐characterized loads are employed in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications. However, the current commercial or emerging new battery technologies are suffering from the problem of slow charging and early battery life degradation. This paper proposes a fast pulse charging method, which also prevents battery degradation. The research mainly focuses on the currently emerging aluminum batteries being charged using a pulse technique from the photovoltaic source. The pulse charge circuit is analyzed, simulated, designed, and tested with a rechargeable electrochemical cell as a load. The simulations are performed using MATLAB/Simulink software. The laboratory model is implemented with the Arduino Mega2560 board‐based pulse width modulation technique. The proposed charger circuit is tested with two different charging methods using a pulse technique through continuous conduction mode used to test the Al battery. The results showed a reduction in total charging time, and the battery's overall performance was immensely improved. The charge and discharge studies of the battery have been carried out using a biologic electrochemical station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]