UC Merced

Extensive research has been devoted to multivalent ions such as Al3+ for the advancement of rechargeable batteries, which play a pivotal role in powering mobile electronic devices that makeup 80% of practical renewable energy. Electrical devices such as portable electronics and electric vehicles are primarily powered by lithium-ion batteries. Lithium, the primary component of lithium-ion batteries is scarce in the earth's crust. The lack of Li availability raises doubts about its capability to meet future energy needs. Aluminum has garnered significant interest for its potential to bridge this energy storage gap for many reasons. One of Al's greatest attributes is being abundant in the earth’s crust. Al anode materials can also theoretically provide high charge capacities, gravimetric as well as volumetric, in comparison to common metal salts utilized for the advancement of rechargeable-ion batteries such as lithium. Due to the utilization of chloride-rich solutions, there is a lack of non-corrosive electrolytes in development for practical use in aluminum-based battery research. Essentially, the work presented in this dissertation illustrates an effective method to understand reversible Al electrodeposition in an organic non-corrosive environment, which is currently a roadblock in synthesizing electrolytes that can be practically utilized. Through evaluating the aluminum-triflate active halide-free electrolyte in ethyl methyl sulfone and propylene carbonate, this work presents a method for the electrodeposition of aluminum-ions in a halogen-free environment which is a quintessential step in synthesizing an electrolyte that is ideal for the purpose of constructing a reversible aluminum-ion battery.