The development of paper-based batteries has recently yielded alternatives to conventional batteries and which offer safe, environmentally friendly and potentially renewable sources of energy. Paper is inexpensive, disposable, easy to fabricate and manipulate, and liquids flow via capillary action alleviating the needs for an external pump for moving fuel. Herein, the development and optimization of an easy to fabricate, paper-based aluminum (Al)-air battery is described. The battery uses activated carbon, silver and carbon ink as cathodic material, pure aluminum anodes, paper membranes, and a 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) housing. Whatman 2 paper painted with silver ink, carbon ink and a mixture of tempera paint with activated carbon acts as the cathode, while Al shim acts as an anode. An additional piece of Whatman 2 paper is used as a membrane to separate the anode and cathode while also enabling the electrolyte to flow with capillary action. With the use of KOH as an alkaline electrolyte, a maximum open-circuit voltage of 1.8 V is achieved. The system is capable of generating a maximum current density and power density of 14.71 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> and 7.37 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>, respectively. The battery can power small motors and calculators. Future work is focused on using Al alloys to reduce corrosion and/or replacing the Al shim with Al powder paste.

Optimization of inexpensive paper-based aluminum-air battery

ACS Fall 2021

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