Recent advances for Zn-gas batteries beyond Zn-air/oxygen battery

Zn-gas batteries have attracted great attention in the area of energy conversion and storage owing to their high theoretical energy density in the past decades. In addition to the most widely researched Znair/oxygen battery, other novel Zn-gas batteries such as Zn-CO 2 , Zn-N 2 and Zn-NO batteries as killing two birds with one stone strategy have emerged to provide energy power and upgrade the pollutant/useless gases simultaneously. This technology becomes more appealing as a low-cost and controllable method to produce value-added chemicals and fuels (such as CO, HCOO -, CH 4 , NH 3 ) at the cathode driven by surplus electricity. However, there is an absence of a guide for the selection of catalyst and the construction of energy system. Herein, we overview recent achievements in typical Zn-gas batteries beyond Zn-air/oxygen, mainly including Zn-CO 2 , Zn-N 2 and Zn-NO batteries. The energy storage mechanism of these novel Zn-gas batteries has been clearly elaborated. Then, the produced value-added chemicals and the design of cathodic catalyst materials are summarized. Lastly, the remaining challenges and possible directions of Zn-gas batteries, such as highly reduced products, high yield rate and remarkable battery performance, in the future are discussed.(c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

Zn-gas batteries have been highly regarded in energy conversion and storage due to their high theoretical energy density. Besides the widely studied Zn-air/oxygen battery, other novel Zn-gas batteries, such as Zn-CO2, Zn-N2, and Zn-NO batteries, have emerged as a dual-purpose strategy to provide energy power and simultaneously upgrade pollutant/useless gases. This technology offers a low-cost and controllable method to produce value-added chemicals and fuels at the cathode driven by surplus electricity. However, there is a need for guidance in catalyst selection and energy system construction. This review summarizes recent achievements in typical Zn-gas batteries beyond Zn-air/oxygen, including their energy storage mechanism, production of value-added chemicals, and design of cathodic catalyst materials. The challenges and possible future directions of Zn-gas batteries are also discussed.