Work

Chloride‐Mediated Activation of Aluminum‐Alloyed Liquid Metal Anodes for Stretchable Asymmetric Energy Storage

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Gallium‐based liquid metals are attractive anodes for stretchable energy storage because they operate dendrite‐free, yet their bulk faradaic capacity remains locked behind a native oxide shell that conventional electrolytes cannot remove. Here, this passivation problem is resolved through the co‐design of an aluminum‐alloyed gallium–indium (AlGaIn) anode and a chloride‐rich water‐in‐ionic‐liquid (WIL) electrolyte, and the indium‐assisted electrochemical activation mechanism connecting them is identified. Al alloying converts the native oxide into a hydroxyl‐rich mixed Al–Ga–O shell susceptible to [GaCl 4 ] − ‐mediated etching, while the In(III) ions preferentially reduced into metallic patches that seed reversible Ga alloying/dealloying within the WIL. Potential‐resolved ex situ XPS indicates that in conventional TFSI‐based electrolytes, the electrode passivates beneath a TFSI‐derived interphase, whereas in the WIL, a chloride‐dominated electrode–electrolyte interphase forms instead. The activated anode gains 60% capacity during activation and retains ∼100% capacity over 1600 cycles at 500 mA g − 1 . Paired with a sonochemically derived GaOOH nanosheet cathode in a stretchable asymmetric cell, the asymmetric full cell delivers a maximum of 66.28 mWh cm −3 normalized to the active‐electrode volume, and 90% capacity retention over 4000 cycles. The halide‐mediated oxide‐displacement principle established here provides a generalizable electrolyte‐design strategy for oxide‐passivated liquid‐metal and post‐lithium anodes.

Source: Advanced Energy Materials

DOI: 10.1002/aenm.71752

Authors: Adit Gupta, Yufei Zhang, Jae Uk Choi, Pooi See Lee

Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Language: English

Topic: Aqueous and Flow Batteries

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,790