High performance secondary zinc-air/silver hybrid battery

Electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries have attracted significant research interest due to their low price, high security and energy density. However, they present low power density which should be improved to increase its commercial possibilities. In that sense, different strategies were followed in the state of the art including the development of new kind of high power based technology: secondary zinc-air/silver hybrid (ZASH) battery. This technology integrates the low cost and high energy density of zinc-air and the high power density of silver-zinc technologies. However, the approaches described in the state of the art are focused on material development at half-cell level without really knowing the practical technology characteristics on basis of all cell components. Exploring somewhat beyond the beaten path of material development could lead to an approach for future progress in the technology oriented to practical applications in the market. In the present work different silver loadings are analyzed and the practical characteristics of ZASH battery are defined. Here reported secondary zinc-air/silver battery presents an outstanding stability higher than 1,000 h with competitive specific energy (52.22 Wh kg(-1) cell) and energy density (253.64 Wh L-1 cell).

Automated summary

Electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries have low cost, high security and energy density, but low power density, which requires improvement for commercial potential. The development of a new technology, ZASH battery, integrates the advantages of zinc-air and silver-zinc technologies, showing potential for practical applications in the market. Further research on material development beyond conventional approaches could lead to progress in technology for future market applications.