Aluminum Air Battery Improvements

[parker.clark]

I am currently designing an aluminum-air battery(e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_battery) for a lab class that I'm taking. It seems like the prototypical design for one of these batteries is to have an aluminum foil anode beneath a paper towel soaked in salt water as an electrolyte, and activated carbon on top of the paper towel that allows the oxygen cathode to interact with more surface area. I already plan on adding multiple layers to increase the output voltage and using some better electrolyte like NaOH to increase the power output, but beyond these basic changes I am undecided. Some other ideas I've had are to...
-replace the paper towel with some other barrier that is better at both conducting ions and impeding electron flow
-introduce some sort of solvent into the electrolyte in order to prevent buildup of aluminum hydroxide on the anodes, which reduces the cell's potential
-replace the activated carbon (or mix it with something) that provides a large surface area but also decreases ohmic losses and allows for greater electron transport above the electrolyte


The objective is to produce the greatest amount of electrical energy in 3 minutes(upon discharge), so lifetime concerns are not important. I'd appreciate any insight or advice that anyone might have!

Thanks!

 

[parker.clark]

Did I post this in the incorrect section? I would greatly appreciate it if someone could point me to where I should post it, or maybe even another forum that might be more appropriate...

Thanks!