(345h) Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery
AIChE Annual Meeting
2023
2023 AIChE Annual Meeting
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
In Honor of the 2021 R.H. Wilhelm Award Winner II (Invited Talks)
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 2:36pm to 2:54pm
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.