Aluminum batteries: Opportunities and challenges

• Aluminum batteries (ABs) as alternative of lithium and sodium ion batteries . • ABs fulfill the requirement for a low-cost and high-performance energy storage system. • Surface engineering suppresses the corrosion of aluminum anode. • Optimization of suitable electrolyte, separator, and cathode materials . • Theoretical studies help to develop high-performance energy storage systems. In the fast-evolving civilization of the twenty-first century, low-cost rechargeable batteries with high energy density (E d ) and overall performance are emerging as a technology of crucial importance. It is critically essential to advance new battery materials and electrochemical chemistry beyond traditional Li-ion batteries (LIBs) in order to significantly increase the E d to satisfy the escalating demands. Aluminum (Al) is promising options for primary/secondary aluminum batteries (ABs) because of their large volumetric capacity (C υ ∼8.04 A h cm −3 , four times higher than Li), abundancy (∼8.2%), low price ($ ∼2.20 USD kg −1 ), and environmental friendliness. The low-capacity electrode materials, rapid capacity decay, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) due to corrosion of Al anode, lack of cost-effective and moisture-resistant electrolytes, and stable current collectors are just a few of the ABs limitations that need to be surpass before they can be used in commercialization. This work comprehensively reviews recent advances, mechanisms, and future prospects in primary/secondary ABs, covering types, structure, electrochemistry, recent developments in cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators, results achieved, challenges, and future prospects.