Zinc-air batteries are lightweight, compact, sustainable, and less flammable than other batteries. The problem is they usually are not rechargeable. With a new prototype, the zinc battery can be recharged hundreds of times. Every battery contains two electrodes, a zinc anode, and a porous cathode separated by liquid electrolytes. In the zinc-air cells, the electrolyte is a high pH substance like potassium hydroxide. Oxygen reacts with water through the cathode to produce hydroxide at the surface of the cathode, then travels to the anode and reacts with zinc to release energy to power the device. A problem arose where the electrolytes degraded the anode and cathode. They solved this by using a new electrolyte that has water-repelling ions that stick to the cathode, which prevents water from reacting with incoming oxygen from the cathode surface. Therefore, the zinc ions from the anode can directly react with the oxygen in the air. This reaction can be done in reverse allowing the battery to be rechargeable. The cell can be recharged 320 times in 116 hours.
Temming, M. (2021, January 5). Zinc-air batteries are typically single-use. A new design could change that. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/zinc-air-batteries-single-use-new-design-rechargeable
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