Aluminium is a lightweight, conductive, and corrosion-resistant metal widely used in the battery industry, particularly in current collectors, casing materials, and emerging next-generation battery technologies.
In lithium-ion batteries, aluminium is commonly used as the positive electrode (cathode) current collector, where it serves as a conductive substrate for active materials such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) or lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Its properties—such as high electrical conductivity, low density, and good corrosion resistance in non-aqueous electrolytes—make it ideal for this application.
Key roles of aluminium in the battery industry include:
Cathode current collector: Thin aluminium foil is used to conduct electrons from the cathode to the external circuit.
Battery packaging: Aluminium is used in prismatic and pouch cell casings due to its light weight and strength.
Emerging battery chemistries: Research is ongoing into aluminium-ion and aluminium-air batteries, which promise high energy density and low cost.
