| Abstract | Aluminum electrodes have been considered for use in lithium and lithium ion batteries for nearly four decades. Although the Al-Li equilibrium phase diagram contains multiple Al-Li phases, only β-AlLi forms during room temperature cycling. Al₂Li₃ can be formed when electrochemically inserting Li at temperatures above 400°C, and Al₄Li₉ is occasionally detected after extended room temperature cycling. Here, four equilibrium phases of Al-Li (β-AlLi, Al₂Li₃, AlLi₂₋ₓ, Al₄Li₉) were produced by the electrochemical lithiation and delithiation of 1100-series aluminum foil at moderate to intermediatetemperatures (30–150°C) using a carbonate-based electrolyte. Phase identification was performed using ex-situ X-ray diffractionand coulometry, after accounting for the consumption of lithium in electrolyte breakdown products. After overcoming an initialnucleation barrier, β-AlLi formed at all temperatures, Al₂Li₃ and AlLi₂₋ₓ formed at temperatures above 60°C at moderate rates, and above 35°C at low rates, and Al₄Li₉ formed at temperatures above 100°C. All expected phases were also encountered during delithiation. The effects of nucleationand diffusion on observed phases and capacities are also discussed. |
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