Performance of Al–0.5 Mg–0.02 Ga–0.1 Sn–0.5 Mn as anode for Al–air battery in NaCl solutions

• Al–air battery based on Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn offers higher electrochemical performance.
• The corrosion potential of Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn is −1.499 V (SCE).
• At 20 mA cm−2, the operating voltage of Al–air battery with Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn is 1.236 V.
• The anodic utilization of Al–air battery with Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn is 85.3%.

In this research, metal–air battery based on Al, Zn, Al–0.5 Mg–0.02 Ga–0.1 Sn and Al–0.5 Mg–0.02 Ga–0.1 Sn–0.5 Mn (wt%) is prepared and the battery performance is investigated by constant current discharge test in 2 mol L−1 NaCl solutions. The characteristics of the anodes after discharge are investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion behavior of the anodes is studied by self-corrosion rate measurement and potentiodynamic polarization measurement. The results show that Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn is more active than Al, Zn and Al–Mg–Ga–Sn anodes. The self-corrosion rate is found to be in the order: Al < Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn < Al–Mg–Ga–Sn < Zn. It has been observed that the Al–air battery based on Al–Mg–Ga–Sn–Mn offers higher operating voltage and anodic utilization than those with others. SEM and EIS results of the alloy are in good agreement with corrosion characteristics.