Aluminium Nanowire Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this paper, we report on the fabrication of mechanically stable aluminium nanowire electrodes for application in lithium-ion batteries. The electrochemical synthesis of the nanowire electrodes was performed in the chloroaluminate ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [EMIm]Cl/AlCl3 (40:60 mol%) using polycarbonate templates. The fabricated nanowire electrodes exhibit high mechanical stability after 50 cycles of lithium deposition/stripping without significant disintegration of the nanowire structure. The mechanical stability and strong adhesion of the Al-nanowires with the electrodeposited Al-electrode can lead to long cycling life. The fabricated Al-nanowire electrodes deliver a capacity of 790 mAhg(-1) at 1C-rate.