Electrocatalysis of Rechargeable Non-Lithium Metal-Air Batteries

Rechargeable metal-air batteries show great promise in replacing conventional batteries due to their high theoretical energy density and infinite oxygen fuel from air. Rechargeable non-Li-air batteries display the benefits of low price, high Coulombic efficiency, and small overpotential. Whereas in the case of Li-air batteries, the occurring electrocatalysis is intensively investigated, the situation is much less studied in the case of non-lithium metal-air batteries. In this progress report, recent developments of secondary non-lithium metal-air batteries are summarized, and the important issues of electrochemical reactions and bifunctional catalysts are discussed. Future perspectives are offered in the end, which should shed light on further research and design of bifunctional catalysts for secondary metal-air batteries.