As a non-rechargeable battery, aluminum-air battery came out as early as 1960s, and it has a very high energy density. Aluminum-air battery consists of catalytic air cathode, electrolyte and metal aluminum anode.
One aluminum oxidizes into aluminum ions, releasing three electrons, which is stronger than lithium. Calculated by electric energy/bulk density, the energy density is higher than that of lithium batteries. But after oxidation to alumina, the volume will expand and the density will decrease. If alumina is compacted, aluminum will not be exposed to oxygen and the reaction rate will decrease. (The theoretical specific energy can reach 8 100 Wh/kg, which is second only to 13.0kWh/kg of lithium-air battery. In 2065,438+04, the actual specific energy of aluminum-air battery only reached 350Wh/kg, which was still twice that of lithium battery. )
Tesla's patented technology is also aimed at metal-air batteries, which describes that the battery pack is composed of lithium-ion and metal-air batteries, and the car can travel 400 miles (about 650 kilometers) on a single charge. Tesla's "Extended Range Hybrid Battery System" includes a standard lithium-ion battery pack, a controller, a conventional motor and a metal-air chemical battery pack. The lithium-ion battery pack directly supplies power to the vehicle, and the metal-air battery pack provides power for the lithium-ion battery pack. In Tesla's patented design, the metal-air battery pack basically replaced the extended-range internal combustion engine.
The air cathode of aluminum-air battery developed by Phinergy company in Israel is equipped with a special silver-based catalyst and adopts a unique and innovative structure, which can make oxygen pass through smoothly and keep carbon dioxide out. Through this innovative structure, the air cathode of Phinergy aluminum-air battery can effectively avoid the carbonation of alkali at the anode, so its working life can reach thousands of hours. When aluminum is exposed to air, the oxidation reaction of aluminum will naturally occur, and the aluminum oxide on the surface will prevent the deep aluminum from continuing to react. The new technology used in the new battery contains electrolyte (KOH solution? ) can dissolve the surface oxide layer and make the reaction continue.