Ionic liquid lithium metal anodes

Alkali metals have high oxidation-reduction potentials and low atomic masses. Thus they are attractive candidates for anodes in secondary batteries. In this context, it was shown in a couple of investigations that lithium and sodium can be electrodeposited from tetrachloroaluminate-based ionic liquids. 

Sodium and lithium Both sodium [15] and lithium [16] electrodeposition was successful in neutral chloroaluminate ionic liquids that contained protons. These elements are interesting for Na- or Li-based secondary batteries, where the metals would serve directly as the anode material. The electrodeposition is not possible in basic or acidic chloroaluminates, only proton-rich NaQ or LiQ buffered neutral chloroaluminate liquids were feasible. The protons enlarged the electrochemical window towards the cathodic regime so that the alkali metal electrodeposition became possible. For Na the proton source was dissolved HQ that was introduced via the gas phase or via 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen dichloride. Triethanolamine hydrogen dichloride was employed as the proton source for Li electrodeposition. For both alkali metals, reversible deposition and stripping were reported on tungsten and stainless steel substrates, respectively. 

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