Polymer gel electrolytes for application in aluminum deposition and rechargeable aluminum ion batteries

Abstract

A polymer gel electrolyte using AlCl₃ complexed acrylamide as a functional monomer and acidic ionic liquid based on a mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImCl) and AlCl₃ (EMImCl–AlCl₃, 1–1.5, in molar ratio) as a plasticizer has been successfully prepared for the first time via free radical polymerization. Aluminum deposition is successfully achieved using a polymer gel electrolyte containing 80 wt% ionic liquid. The polymer gel electrolytes are also good candidates for rechargeable aluminum ion batteries.