Specific Energy (Milliwatt-hours per gram) The following table shows the calculation of specific energy for a specific zinc-air battery and several other commonly available batteries of different chemistries. Energy density, when measured by weight (mass) is known as specific energy. Zinc–air batteries have higher energy density than many other types of battery because atmospheric air is one of the battery reactants, in contrast to battery types that require a material such as manganese dioxide in combination with zinc. Zinc–air batteries cannot be used in a sealed battery holder since some air must come in the oxygen in 1 liter of air is required for every ampere-hour of capacity used. The chemical equations for the zinc–air cell are: Anode: Īnimation of the operation of a zinc–air cell Development in the 1970s of thin electrodes based on fuel-cell research allowed application to small button and prismatic primary cells for hearing aids, pagers, and medical devices, especially cardiac telemetry. These were long-duration, low-rate applications. Edison Industries Carbonaire type were used for railway signaling, remote communication sites, and navigation buoys. Large primary zinc–air cells such as the Thomas A.

However, the current capacity is low and the cells are bulky. This type is still used for large zinc–air cells for navigation aids and rail transportation. Schumacher of the National Carbon Company built cells, treating the carbon electrodes with wax to prevent flooding. Commercial products began to be made on this principle in 1932 when George W. In 1878, a porous platinized carbon air electrode was found to work as well as the manganese dioxide ( MnOĢ) of the Leclanche cell. The effect of oxygen was known early in the 19th century when wet-cell Leclanche batteries absorbed atmospheric oxygen into the carbon cathode current collector. Possible future applications of this battery include its deployment as an electric vehicle battery and as a utility-scale energy storage system. Zinc–air batteries can be used to replace now discontinued 1.35 V mercury batteries (although with a significantly shorter operating life), which in the 1970s through 1980s were commonly used in photo cameras and hearing aids. Zinc–air batteries have some properties of fuel cells as well as batteries: the zinc is the fuel, the reaction rate can be controlled by varying the air flow, and oxidized zinc/electrolyte paste can be replaced with fresh paste. The reactions produce a theoretical 1.65 volts, but this is reduced to 1.35–1.4 V in available cells. The water and hydroxyl from the anode are recycled at the cathode, so the water is not consumed. The zincate decays into zinc oxide and water returns to the electrolyte. Oxygen from the air reacts at the cathode and forms hydroxyl ions which migrate into the zinc paste and form zincate ( Zn(OH) 2−Ĥ), releasing electrons to travel to the cathode. Sizes range from very small button cells for hearing aids, larger batteries used in film cameras that previously used mercury batteries, to very large batteries used for electric vehicle propulsion and grid-scale energy storage.ĭuring discharge, a mass of zinc particles forms a porous anode, which is saturated with an electrolyte. These batteries have high energy densities and are relatively inexpensive to produce. Zinc–air batteries (non-rechargeable), and zinc–air fuel cells (mechanically rechargeable) are metal–air batteries powered by oxidizing zinc with oxygen from the air. Right side: Cathode and inlet opening for the atmospheric oxygen.

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