A rechargeable zinc-air battery based on zinc peroxide chemistry

When two is better than four Batteries based on the reaction of zinc and oxygen have been used for more than a century, but these have been primary (that is, nonrechargeable) cells. These batteries use an alkaline electrolyte and require a four-electron reduction of oxygen to water, which is a slow process. Sun et al. show that with the right choice of nonalkaline electrolyte, the battery can operate using a two-electron zinc-oxygen/zinc peroxide chemistry that is far more reversible. By making the electrolyte hydrophobic, water is excluded from the near surface of the cathode, thus preventing the four-electron reduction. These batteries also show higher energy density and better cycling stability. Science ,…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Award: ARPA-E grant DEAR0000389
• BF
  Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

  Award: 03XP0249;03XP0110A;03XP0258A;03XP0140