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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Electrochemically Treated TiO₂ for Enhanced Performance in Aqueous Al-Ion Batteries
Alexander Holland1, Rachel McKerracher2, Andrew Cruden3
1Energy Technology Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. awh1g10@soton.ac.uk.
Abstract:
The potential for low cost, environmentally friendly and high rate energy storage has led to the study of anatase-TiO₂ as an electrode material in aqueous Al3+ electrolytes. This paper describes the improved performance from an electrochemically treated composite TiO₂ electrode for use in aqueous Al-ion batteries. After application of the cathodic electrochemical treatment in 1 mol/dm³ KOH, Mott⁻Schottky analysis showed the treated electrode as having an increased electron density and an altered open circuit potential, which remained stable throughout cycling. The cathodic treatment also resulted in a change in colour of TiO₂. Treated-TiO₂ demonstrated improved capacity, coulombic efficiency and stability when galvanostatically cycled in 1 mol·dm-3AlCl₃/1 mol·dm-3 KCl. A treated-TiO₂ electrode produced a capacity of 15.3 mA·h·g-1 with 99.95% coulombic efficiency at the high specific current of 10 A/g. Additionally, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the origin of this improved performance.
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