Schematic diagram of the hybrid ZAB with a proton-shuttle-shielding, hydrophobic-ion-conducting membrane, and the corresponding chemical reactions. Credit: Zhang Xinbo
The long-standing challenges to the practical implementation of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are the electrochemical irreversibility of the Zn anode and degradation of the air cathodes in alkaline electrolyte, which eventually result in poor cycle life and low cell voltage.
To improve the reversibility of ZABs, exhaustive efforts have been made to exploit highly survivable catalysts for the air cathode while weakening the corrosion of the Zn anode through electrode design or electrolyte…