Volume 6, Issue 1 2101116
Review
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Recent Advances in Flexible Zn–Air Batteries: Materials for Electrodes and Electrolytes

Haoran Liu

Haoran Liu

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

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Wen Xie

Wen Xie

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

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Zeyi Huang

Zeyi Huang

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

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Chuanhao Yao

Corresponding Author

Chuanhao Yao

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Yunhu Han

Corresponding Author

Yunhu Han

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Wei Huang

Corresponding Author

Wei Huang

Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), and Ningbo Institute of NPU, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 19 November 2021
Citations: 17

Abstract

Flexible Zn–air batteries (ZABs) draw much attention due to the merits of high energy density, stability, and safety, and show potential applications for wearable devices. However, the development of flexible ZABs with great energy density, high round-trip efficiency, and long cycle life for practical applications is highly restricted by the lack of highly active oxygen catalysts, high ion-conducting solid-state electrolytes, appropriate Zn anodes, and advanced battery configuration. Promising oxygen catalysts should possess both, superior oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction performance and can be directly used as self-supporting cathodes without loading catalysts on support materials such as carbon cloth. In addition, electrolytes play an important role in ZABs; a good electrolyte should be in all-solid state with high ion conductivity. Moreover, for an excellent Zn anode, it is required to stably contact the electrolyte interface during the bending process. Therefore, in this review, recent advances in ZABs are summarized, including: i) the powder and 3D self-supporting oxygen catalysts, ii) the species of solid-state electrolytes, and iii) the rational design of Zn anodes. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of this promising field are presented.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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