Cheap and environmentally benign electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices based on AlI3 electrolytes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja057791v

Cheap and environmentally benign electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, including a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using an AlI₃-ethanol electrolyte and a new Al/I₂ primary battery, are reported. The AlI₃-ethanol electrolyte can be prepared simply by adding aluminum powder and iodine into ethanol at ambient conditions. The DSSC using this AlI₃-ethanol electrolyte achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 5.9% at AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm-2). In the Al/I₂ battery, AlI₃is formed spontaneously when aluminum and iodine electrodes are brought into contact at room temperature. Then I^- anions transport across the AlI₃ solid electrolyte for further electrochemical reactions. Copyright