INVESTIGATION OF A NOVEL AQUEOUS ALUMINUM SULFUR BATTERY

Electrolytic and electrodic effects are investigated for a novel alumi num/sulfur battery based on concentrated polysulfide catholytes and an alkaline aluminum anode. The battery is expressed by aluminum oxidati on and aqueous sulfur reduction for an overall battery discharge consi sting of: 2Al+S(4)2-+2OH-+4H2O-->2Al(OH)3+4HS- E(cell)=1.79V The theor etical specific energy of the Al/S battery (based on potassium salts) is 647 Wh kg-1. A first generation aluminum/sulfur battery is demonstr ated with an open-circuit voltage of 1.3 V, and a specific energy of 1 10 Wh kg-1.