Cheap and environmentally benign electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices based on AlI3 electrolytes

Cheap and environmentally benign electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices, including a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using an AlI3-ethanol electrolyte and a new Al/I2 primary battery, are reported. The AlI3-ethanol electrolyte can be prepared simply by adding aluminum powder and iodine into ethanol at ambient conditions. The DSSC using this AlI3-ethanol electrolyte achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 5.9% at AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm-2). In the Al/I2 battery, AlI3 is formed spontaneously when aluminum and iodine electrodes are brought into contact at room temperature. Then I- anions transport across the AlI3 solid electrolyte for further electrochemical reactions.