| abstract |
An aluminium battery comprises an aqueous alkaline electrolyte and an anode which is an alloy of aluminium containing magnesium and/or calcium. Tin is present in the electrolyte (as stannate at a concentration of 0.001 to 0.01 M) and/or in the anode (at a concentration of at least 0.005%). The batteries operate at high coulombic efficiency at both high and low current densities. Preferred conditions of operation comprise drawing current at an average current density of 5 to 400 mA/cm² of anode surface for at least one hour, and introducing seed crystals into the electrolyte to aid precipitation of aluminium values from the electrolyte. |