Evolution of the solid-liquid interface using a novel hybrid corrosion inhibitor to improve Al-air battery performance

Abstract

Aluminum-air batteries (AABs) are considered the most promising candidates in advanced clean energy conversion and storage due to their low density, high specific energy, and abundant aluminum resources; however, the development of AABs is constrained by inevitable parasitic side reactions and anodic surface passivation film formation. The present work introduced an innovative hybrid corrosion inhibitor consisting of potassium stannate, decyl glucoside, and 1, 10-decanedithiol to regulate solid-liquid interface reactions in alkaline AABs. The findings indicated that the optimal hybrid corrosion inhibitor could reduce the hydrogen evolution rate from 0.2095 to 0.0406 mL cm⁻² min⁻¹, achieving an inhibition efficiency of 80.62%. The surface analysis discussed in detail the evolution process of the solid-liquid interface after the introduction of the hybrid corrosion inhibitor into the battery. Experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that decyl glucoside enhanced the adsorption and coverage efficiency of the hybrid corrosion inhibitor through the “micelle solubilization” effect and optimized the structure and properties of the solid-liquid interface. This study also contributed valuable insights into the corrosion inhibition mechanism at the solid-liquid interface of alkaline AABs.