(345h) Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery

Development of low cost, high energy, safe and long-life energy storage systems is critical for widespread commercialization of smart grid and electric vehicles. Rechargeable zinc-air battery has been considered as the most promising candidate as energy storage system for transportation, smart grids, and stationary power. They can display a considerably several times higher specific energy and volumetric energy density than that of the Li-ion battery. Besides, zinc-air batteries also demonstrate other desirable characteristics, such as abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness, safety, and low cost. The current zinc-air battery is typically composed of four main components: an air electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, a separator, and a zinc electrode. For the electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery, each main structural component faces its own challenges. In this presentation, we will present our recent work on advanced energy materials development for next generation rechargeable zinc-air batteries by focusing on the nanostructured bifunctional oxygen electro-catalysts and mechanical studies on their corresponding electrochemical behaviors during battery cycling. More specifically, we will discuss: 1) how the nanoengineered materials can enhance the catalytic activity and durability of oxygen electro-catalysts, 2) what is the structural evolution and actual species of oxygen electro-catalysts in the zinc-air batteries operation, 3) how the 3D air electrode architectures and mechanical understandings can advance the practical performance of the zinc-air batteries, as well as their extended applications include portable, flexible, and diversely shaped zinc-air batteries.