Crater-like architectural aluminum current collectors with superior electrochemical performance for Li-ion batteries

•A simple method for fabricating a crater-like architectural aluminum current collector is reported.•The cell using crater-like architectural aluminum current collector exhibits superior electrochemical performance.•The improved electrochemical performance arises from good electrical contact between the particles and current collector.

Crater-like architectural aluminum current collectors is prepared by a simple chemical etching method with NaOH-based solutions, and investigate the effect of aluminum surface morphology on its electrochemical performance as cathode current collector in Li-ion batteries. Characterization data reveal an acceptable tensile strength and surface hydrophilicity in the etched aluminum current collector, together with the creation of a rough surface with many reticular crater-like pits. In Li-ion cells using LiCoO2 as the active material, the crater-like architectural aluminum foil is electrochemically stable as the current collector, when in contact with other cell components during the charge-discharge processes. The improved electrochemical performance is attributed to the good electrical contact between cathode material particles and the current collector, and the resulting efficient electron transfer.

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