Zinc-air batteries perform better with tin
A new approach in zinc–air battery (ZAB) technology shows how tin can help improve performance and lifetime.
Zinc–air batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses oxygen from the air at the cathode, offering the advantage of high energy density and low cost. This technology is an appealing choice for large-scale grid energy storage systems. E-Zinc and Abound are leading start-ups in this space who both received funding for scale-up projects last year. Opportunities to improve performance relate to power density, cycling stability, and rechargeability.
Researchers in China have now developed a catalyst combining tin (Sn), cobalt (Co), and ruthenium oxide (RuO₂), designed to enhance the reactions that power these batteries, known as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
Traditionally, it’s been difficult to design catalysts that work well for both ORR and OER. These reactions require different conditions, making it challenging to create a single catalyst that can perform efficiently for both. To solve this, the research team used tin to regulate the surface of the catalyst, improving the efficiency of both reactions.
The new Sn–Co/RuO₂ catalyst showed impressive results, with a high oxygen potential difference (ΔE) of 0.628 V and excellent stability. It maintained strong performance even after 200,000 cycles for ORR and 20,000 cycles for OER. Moreover, zinc–air batteries using this catalyst performed well across a wide temperature range, from −30°C to 65°C.
This research opens up exciting possibilities for more efficient and durable zinc–air batteries for large-scale energy storage applications. Tin-based materials are also being evaluated for other metal-air batteries including aluminium-air.
