In this paper, Sun et al reported their work on a rechargeable Al-Li alloy/SPAN battery with a high voltage of 1.5 V constructed using an Al-Li alloy anode, a polymeric sulfur cathode, and a lithium ion electrolyte. The Al-Li alloy as anode material could act as the replacement of Li metal to both minimizing the lithium dendrite and reducing the potential of oxidation in air. The use of Li-ion carbonate electrolyte enabled fast Li ion transfer during reaction, in terms of the formation of the Al-Li alloy and the lithium sulfides.Taking into account the safety and abundance of Al and S, this kind of high-capacity Li-S battery could minimize the use of lithium to prevent Li dendrite formation, improve the safety via using more air-stable Al-Li alloy, reduce the cost and therefore, open up new opportunities for sulfur-based high-energy batteries.

Read more on Energy Storage Materials, 2018 (doi:10.1016/j.ensm.2018.04.003)

Li-metal-free Li-ion sulfur battery assembled with an Al-Li alloy anode