In order to develop the new anode materials for Al/air batteries, electrochemical properties of pure aluminium (99.999 %), technical grade aluminium (99.8 %) and the alloys with indium and tin, i.e. Al—0.1 % In, Al—0.2 % Sn and Al—0.1 % In—0.2 % Sn have been investigated in 2 mol dm−3 NaCl solution. The aluminium materials were polarized anodically in the range 20–100 mA cm−2 for a 30 min period. During the anodic polarization variation in potential was recorded as a function of time and the simultaneous hydrogen evolution was measured. The rate of hydrogen evolution reaction was found to increase with increasing anodic polarization which is characteristic of the negative difference effect. The additional information concerning the corrosion behaviour of the tested materials was provided by light microscope imaging. The results show that the examined technical grade aluminium alloys could serve as suitable anodes for Al/air batteries containing sodium chloride electrolyte; with Al–In exhibiting the most remarkable characteristics. The addition of In as alloying component to aluminium reduces electrode polarization, decreases hydrogen evolution rate and increases the anode efficiency.
