Top five aluminium-air battery manufacturers in the world

Aluminium-air (al-air) batteries produce electricity by converting the energy released from oxidation of aluminium using oxygen in the air packed inside. The portable cells have phenomenal energy density and can release approximately 4kWh of heat and electricity from one kilo of aluminium. Each aluminium-air battery cell consists of a negative aluminium anode and a positive cathode with hydro-electrolyte in between. The battery needs an external trigger to initiate the chemical reaction and remains dormant when switched off. It is like a portable, on-board power station that needs no mains charging and ensures zero loss of power when turned on again. Aluminium-air batteries find applications in specialty military equipment and vehicles and in the much in-demand electric vehicles. 

However, despite various usages, the demand for aluminium-air batteries remains plagued by one issue- they are not rechargeable; only the aluminium oxide from the batteries can be recycled for new batteries. This is the reason why research on improving the efficiency of aluminium air batteries somewhat slowed down in the 1980’s. There were few companies that still managed to thrive and take the technology development work forward. The companies which reinvented their technologies and made a viable competition out of aluminium-air batteries for the emerging lithium-ion battery market are the ones listed below:

Please note the list of top five aluminium-air battery manufacturers in the world is a suggestive one. It may change under different macroeconomic conditions.

1. Phinergy

A leading developer of clean and high energy-density systems based on metal-air technology, Israel’s Phinergy has revolutionised electricity generation using aluminium as the main energy source. The aluminium air batteries made by Phinergy are clean, safe, and fully recyclable. At a time when most of the world’s metal-air battery manufactures were slowing down their production, Phinergy continued to work on their patented technology platform. Their approach purports that its air electrodes last longer, are immune to the carbonization that plagued the chemistry of previous battery models, and uses a silver-based catalyst.

Currently, Phinergy is partnering with Arconic, a global technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing leader, to develop and supply aluminium for energy.

2. Fuji Pigment

Iconic Japanese pigment, photosensitizer compound, environmental devices, batteries, electrode, and electrolyte manufacturer and nanotechnology leader Fuji Pigment Co., Ltd created the world’s first viable, rechargeable aluminium-air battery. The company developed the battery using ionic liquid as the electrolyte.

According to a late 2016 update, Fuji Pigment is attempting to create a rechargeable aluminium–air battery by replacing the typically used aqueous electrolyte with an ionic liquid such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. If Fuji succeeds in making rechargeable batteries it would be able to address the single major functionality issue of these portable energy offerings. That would improve the overall demand scenario of aluminium-air batteries making them more competitive in the global battery market.

3. Xinjiang Joinworld Co., Ltd.

China’s Xinjiang Joinworld Co., Ltd. is primarily engaged in aluminium processing. It also manufactures and sells electronic materials. The company’s products include electrolytic aluminium foils, various types of carbon products, aluminium based electrolyte, electrolytic anode electrode paste, and aluminium air-batteries.

4. ACTXE Limited

Erstwhile Advanced High Power Multi (ACT/XE) Source Energy Science (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Hong Kong based ACTXE Limited is a globally renowned name in aluminium-air battery industry. It manufactures a number of energy cells and caters to a wide cross section of industries. Automotive manufacturers comprise a major percentage of ACTXE’s global clientele.

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5. De Nora Tech, Inc.

The U.S. based De Nora Tech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Industrie De Nora, designs, develops, and manufactures stable anodes and cathodes, coatings, diaphragm and membrane cells, and battery cell parts. The company was formerly known as ELTECH Systems Corporation. It has an electrode manufacturing and coating facility in Chardon, Ohio. ELTECH Systems Corporation has been working on aluminium-air or -oxygen batteries and components since 1980. The ultimate goal of this endeavour is the development of a battery for electric vehicles which will overcome rechargeability-related limitations.

With the emergence of Li-ion batteries, aluminium-air batteries have been somewhat losing their market. But then, the industry seems to be having a love-hate relationship with Li-ion batteries. These metal energy cells have limited long-term utility and are the reason why most EVs have mileages ranging between 40-60 miles only. Recently, Tesla, the otherwise committed user of li-ion batteries, granted a patent related to the emerging metal-air battery technology.  The iconic car maker claims that its new aluminium-air batteries can run up to two weeks and can be refilled with normal water.

Fuji Pigment has made it clear that it intends to commercialize this technology. Whether the car manufacturers will jump for the technology remains to be seen; for now, Tesla, the frontrunner in auto engineering, has already redirected its focus on aluminium-air batteries moving away from Li-ion batteries.