Hindered Aluminum Plating and Stripping in Urea/NMA/Al(OTF)₃ as a Cl-Free Electrolyte for Aluminum Batteries

Conventional electrolytes for aluminum metal batteries are highly corrosive because they must remove the Al₂O₃ layer to enable plating and stripping. 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. We point up the requirement for carefully drying electrolyte mixture and components, as water results in hydrogen evolution reaction and creation of an insulating interphase layer containing Al(OH)₃, AlF₃, and re-passivated Al oxide, which finally blocks the path for the possible Al plating/stripping.