This paper reports the fabrication of metallized (Pt, Ni, Cu, Fe, Co) graphite cathodes by an electrodeposition method from an appropriate electrolytic bath, together with the performance characteristics of specially-designed aluminium/air cells that utilize these cathodes. In these cells, the aluminium electrodes were separated by a glass-jacket separator. The latter prevents mixing of hydrogen gas evolved due to the corrosion of the aluminium electrode. While the open-circuit voltage of the cells is virtually invariant, the short-circuit current and discharge behaviour are markedly dependent upon the choice of catalytic metal. The discharge profiles are improved markedly for cells with a Pt-, Ni- or Cu-coated graphite air cathode, but the reverse is found for Fe- and Co-coated cathodes. The behaviour is explained in terms of chemisorption and the better catalytic activity of Pt, Ni and Cu. These results suggest that Ni- and Cu-coated graphite air cathodes are promising low-cost an efficient electrodes for aluminium/air batteries.
