Strategies towards inhibition of aluminum current collector corrosion in lithium batteries

Aluminum (Al) foil, serving as the predominant current collector for cathode materials in lithium batteries, is still unsatisfactory in meeting the increasing energy density demand of rechargeable energy storage systems due to its severe corrosion under high voltages. Such Al corrosion may cause delamination of cathodes, increasement of internal resistance, and catalysis of electrolyte decomposition, thus leading to premature failure of batteries. Hence, a systematic understanding of the corrosion mechanisms and effective anticorrosion strategies are necessary to enhance overall performance of lithium batteries. In this review, the corrosive mechanisms related to Al current collectors are systematically summarized and clarified. In addition, an overview on recent progress and advancement of strategies toward inhibiting Al corrosion is presented. In the end, we also provide a perspective with motivation to stimulate new ideas and research directions to further inhibit Al corrosion to achieve high energy density, long cycle life, and high safety of lithium batteries.