An Asymmetric-Electrolyte Zn-Air Battery with Ultrahigh Power Density and Energy Density

Zn-air batteries have attracted enormous research interest, driven by the promise for vehicle propulsion owing to their advantages of high-level safety, low cost, and high specific energy density. Here, we report an asymmetric-electrolyte Zn-air battery with acid catholyte and alkaline anolyte separated by a bipolar membrane. We demonstrate that the as-designed Zn-air battery, thanks to the as-formed concentration cell, can deliver a maximum power density of 380 mW cm(-2) and a specific energy density of 1522 Wh kg(-1) with an open-circuit voltage of 2.25 V. The as-proposed Zn-air battery performance is superior to the conventional Zn-air battery in terms of these pivotal performance parameters.