Zinc-air batteries as an alternative to lithium

author: FutureCar Staff    

Researchers in Australia have made a breakthrough in battery technology with the development of zinc-air batteries that have the potential to outperform the widely used lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion batteries dominate the battery storage market, they are known to have shortcomings in terms of cost, resource demands, and safety. Engineers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth led a study that demonstrated how batteries with zinc and air electrodes could deliver superior performance compared to lithium-ion batteries in various aspects. The findings of the study were published in Ecomat.

Dr Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, a chemical and materials engineer at ECU, explained the appeal of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs), stating that they are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and have a high theoretical energy density, making them a promising alternative. With the rise of long-range vehicles and electric aircraft, there is a growing need for battery systems that are safer, more cost-effective, and offer higher performance than lithium-ion batteries.

ZABs utilize a zinc negative electrode and an air positive electrode. However, they have previously displayed limited power output and a short lifespan. The ECU team, led by Dr Azhar, has successfully improved the performance of ZABs by incorporating new materials into the battery design, including carbon, iron, and cobalt-based minerals. This resulted in ZABs with a high peak power density of 228 mW cm−2, a low voltage gap of 0.77 V, and an ultra-long lifespan of 950 hours.

Dr Azhar highlighted the efficiency of the new battery design, which effectively reduced the internal resistance of the batteries and achieved a voltage close to the theoretical voltage. This breakthrough led to the high peak power density and long-term stability of the ZABs. Additionally, the resources required to produce these batteries are expected to be more cost-effective and have a lower environmental impact compared to current supply chains.

Dr Azhar emphasized the use of natural resources, such as zinc from Australia and air, in the production of ZABs. This further enhances the cost-effectiveness and viability of these innovative batteries for future energy storage solutions. With the abundance of zinc in countries like Australia and the ubiquity of air, zinc-air batteries have the potential to become a highly viable and reliable energy storage option.

FutureCar Staff