Researchers from Anhui University of Technology announced on January 4 that Professors Zeng Jie and Liu Mingkai, in collaboration with Associate Professor Li Hongliang from the University of Science and Technology of China, have successfully developed a high-efficiency catalyst for zinc-air batteries.
Source: China News Service
Researchers from Anhui University of Technology announced on January 4 that Professors Zeng Jie and Liu Mingkai, in collaboration with Associate Professor Li Hongliang from the University of Science and Technology of China, have successfully developed a high-efficiency catalyst for zinc-air batteries. The findings were published on January 3 in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, with Anhui University of Technology as the lead institution.
Zinc-air batteries, also known as zinc-oxygen air batteries, are eco-friendly energy storage systems praised for their compact size, lightweight design, wide operating temperature range, and safety. However, their commercialization has been limited by a critical dependency on platinum—a scarce and expensive precious metal—used as a catalyst for the cathode. Addressing this limitation by creating a low-cost, high-performance alternative to platinum-based catalysts is a major scientific challenge in the field.
The research team, led by Professor Zeng, innovatively synthesized a high-purity diatomic iron catalyst and achieved precise control over the spacing between adjacent iron atoms. When applied to the cathodes of zinc-air batteries, this catalyst effectively replaced conventional platinum-based catalysts. Experimental results showed that the diatomic iron catalyst exhibited outstanding catalytic activity, strong resistance to challenging environments, and long-term stability.Zinc-air batteries using the new catalyst achieved a maximum power density of 190.6 milliwatts per square centimeter, significantly outperforming the 151.7 milliwatts per square centimeter recorded by batteries with traditional platinum catalysts. This work provides a promising new approach for developing cost-effective, high-performance catalysts for zinc-air batteries, advancing their potential for widespread use.