Zinc-air batteries have attracted much attention and received revived research efforts recently due to their high energy density, which makes them a promising candidate for emerging mobile and electronic applications. Besides their high energy density, they also demonstrate other desirable characteristics, such as abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness, safety, and low cost. Here, the reaction mechanism of electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries is discussed, different battery configurations are compared, and an in depth discussion is offered of the major issues that affect individual cellular components, along with respective strategies to alleviate these issues to enhance battery performance. Additionally, a section dedicated to battery-testing techniques and corresponding recommendations for best practices are included. Finally, a general perspective on the current limitations, recent application-targeted developments, and recommended future research directions to prolong the lifespan of electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries is provided.

Electrically Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives

“Water-in-deep eutectic solvent” electrolytes enable zinc metal anodes for rechargeable aqueous batteries

Tubular polyaniline (PANI)/Zn microrockets are described that display effective autonomous motion in extreme acidic environments, without any additional chemical fuel. These acid-driven hydrogen-bubble-propelled microrockets have been electrosynthesized using the conical polycarbonate template. The effective propulsion in acidic media reflects the continuous thrust of hydrogen bubbles generated by the spontaneous redox reaction occurring at the inner Zn surface. The propulsion characteristics of PANI/Zn microrockets in different acids and in human serum are described. The observed speed–pH dependence holds promise for sensitive pH measurements in extreme acidic environments. The new microrockets display an ultrafast propulsion (as high as 100 body lengths/s) along with attractive capabilities including guided movement and directed cargo transport. Such acid-driven microtubular rockets offer considerable potential for diverse biomedical and industrial applications.

Hydrogen-bubble-propelled zinc-based microrockets in strongly acidic media.

An outer insulation member made of a first resin packs a part of an anode terminal. The packed part of the anode terminal has a predetermined section. All surfaces of the predetermined section consist of a front surface, a back surface and edges connecting between the front surface and the back surface. The front surface includes a connection area. An anode lead wire is connected to the connection area while being not connected to the anode terminal other than the connection area. The all surfaces of the predetermined section are completely covered with a mask layer made of a second resin except for the connection area. The second resin is different from the first resin in at least one of composition thereof, content of an inclusion, size of an inclusion and shape of an inclusion.

Solid electrolytic capacitor

Alkaline zinc–air batteries are promising energy storage technologies with the advantages of low cost, ecological friendliness, and high energy density. However, the rechargeable zinc–air battery has not been used on a commercial scale because the zinc electrode suffers from critical problems such as passivation, dendrite growth, and hydrogen evolution reaction, which limit the practical applications of zinc–air batteries. Herein, the Perspective summaries the solutions to minimize the negative effects of zinc electrodes on discharge performance, cycling life, and shelf life. The future direction of academic research based on current studies of the existing challenges is proposed.

Challenges in Zinc Electrodes for Alkaline Zinc–Air Batteries: Obstacles to Commercialization

Effect of additives in zinc alloy powder on suppressing hydrogen evolution

A solid electrolytic capacitor has a structure in which a dielectric layer, an electrolyte, a carbon layer, and a metal layer are formed in this order on the surface of an anode. The anode is composed of a porous sinter of tantalum particles. The dielectric layer is composed of a dielectric oxide film formed by anodizing the surface of the anode in an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid, for example. The electrolyte is composed of a conductive polymer, such as polypyrrole or polythiophene. The metal layer is formed by preparing a silver paste by mixing silver particles having an average particle diameter of not larger than 0.05 μm, a protective colloid, and an organic solvent, and applying the silver paste on the surface of the carbon layer, and drying the silver paste at approximately 150° C. or higher.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method thereof

A solid electrolytic capacitor of the invention includes a metal electrode employing a metal, a dielectric layer formed on a surface of the metal electrode and composed of an oxide of the metal, and a carbon material layer overlaid on the dielectric layer.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and a fabrication method therefor

A sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including Mn as a solid-solution element and having a γ ratio of 65 through 100%; a sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including as an additive or coated with a rare earth element and/or a rare earth compound in a ratio measured based on the rare earth element of 0.05 through 5 wt %; and a sealed alkaline storage battery including, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide having a half-width of a peak in a lattice plane (003) in an X-ray diffraction pattern of 0.8° or more. The pressure within the battery is not largely increased for a long period of charge-discharge cycles, and hence, the electrolyte hardly leaks.

Sealed alkaline storage battery

A solid electrolytic capacitor including a positive electrode including a sintered body of metal particles of tantalum or an alloy of tantalum, a dielectric layer formed on a surface of the positive electrode; and an electrolyte layer formed on the dielectric layer. A CV value (a value of product of capacitance and voltage) of the metal particles is 100000 μF·V/g or more. The positive electrode includes a surface region and an interior region, the surface region is configured by an outer surface of the positive electrode and a vicinity of the outer surface, and the interior region is an inner part of the positive electrode surrounded by the surface region. An average film thickness of the dielectric layer in the surface region is thicker than an average film thickness of the dielectric layer in the interior region.

Mutsumi Yano

Papers

Effect of additives in zinc alloy powder on suppressing hydrogen evolution

Solid electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method thereof

Solid electrolytic capacitor and a fabrication method therefor

Sealed alkaline storage battery

Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing same