Revisiting aluminum current collector in lithium-ion batteries: Corrosion and countermeasures

Abstract

With the large-scale service of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), their failures have attracted significant attentions. While the decay of active materials is the primary cause for LIB failures, the degradation of auxiliary materials, such as current collector corrosion, should not be disregarded. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive review in this field. In this review, from the perspectives of electrochemistry and materials, we systematically summarize the corrosion behavior of aluminum cathode current collector and propose corresponding countermeasures. Firstly, the corrosion type is clarified based on the properties of passivation layers in different organic electrolyte components. Furthermore, a thoroughgoing analysis is presented to examine the impact of various factors on aluminum corrosion, including lithium salts, organic solvents, water impurities, and operating conditions. Subsequently, strategies for electrolyte and protection layer employed to suppress corrosion are discussed in detail. Lastly and most importantly, we provide insights and recommendations to prevent corrosion of current collectors, facilitate the development of advanced current collectors and the implementation of next-generation high-voltage stable LIBs.