Formation of H2O2 in Near-Neutral Zn-air Batteries Enables Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Roman R. Kapaev; Nicole Leifer; Alagar Raja Kottaichamy; Amit Ohayon; Langyuan Wu; Menny Shalom; Malachi Noked

doi:10.1002/anie.202418792

Formation of H₂O₂ in Near-Neutral Zn-air Batteries Enables Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Roman R. Kapaev, Nicole Leifer, Alagar Raja Kottaichamy, Amit Ohayon, Langyuan Wu, Menny Shalom, Malachi Noked

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with near-neutral electrolytes hold promise as cheap, safe and sustainable devices, but they suffer from slow charge kinetics and remain poorly studied. Here we reveal a charge storage mechanism of near-neutral Zn-air batteries that is mediated by formation of dissolved hydrogen peroxide upon cell discharge and its oxidation upon charge. This H₂O₂-mediated pathway facilitates oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at ~1.5 V vs. Zn²⁺/Zn, reducing charge overpotentials by ~0.2–0.5 V and mitigating carbon corrosion—a common issue in ZABs. The manifestation of this mechanism strongly depends on the electrolyte composition and positive electrode material, contributing up to ~60 % of the capacity with ZnSO₄ solutions and carbon nanotubes. Enhancing the H₂O₂-mediated pathway offers a route to higher energy efficiency and durability in near-neutral ZABs, advancing practical, sustainable energy storage.

Original language	English
Journal	Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418792
State	Accepted/In press - 1 Jan 2024

Keywords

Energy storage
near-neutral electrolyte
Oxygen reduction reaction
Zn-air battery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
General Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1002/anie.202418792

Cite this

@article{f39f36957e34462ca1359ebfbb8b04d1,

title = "Formation of H2O2 in Near-Neutral Zn-air Batteries Enables Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction",

abstract = "Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with near-neutral electrolytes hold promise as cheap, safe and sustainable devices, but they suffer from slow charge kinetics and remain poorly studied. Here we reveal a charge storage mechanism of near-neutral Zn-air batteries that is mediated by formation of dissolved hydrogen peroxide upon cell discharge and its oxidation upon charge. This H2O2-mediated pathway facilitates oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at \textasciitilde{}1.5 V vs. Zn2+/Zn, reducing charge overpotentials by \textasciitilde{}0.2–0.5 V and mitigating carbon corrosion—a common issue in ZABs. The manifestation of this mechanism strongly depends on the electrolyte composition and positive electrode material, contributing up to \textasciitilde{}60 \% of the capacity with ZnSO4 solutions and carbon nanotubes. Enhancing the H2O2-mediated pathway offers a route to higher energy efficiency and durability in near-neutral ZABs, advancing practical, sustainable energy storage.",

keywords = "Energy storage, near-neutral electrolyte, Oxygen reduction reaction, Zn-air battery",

author = "Kapaev, \{Roman R.\} and Nicole Leifer and Kottaichamy, \{Alagar Raja\} and Amit Ohayon and Langyuan Wu and Menny Shalom and Malachi Noked",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s). Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",

year = "2024",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/anie.202418792",

language = "English",

journal = "Angewandte Chemie - International Edition",

issn = "1433-7851",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Formation of H2O2 in Near-Neutral Zn-air Batteries Enables Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

AU - Kapaev, Roman R.

AU - Leifer, Nicole

AU - Kottaichamy, Alagar Raja

AU - Ohayon, Amit

AU - Wu, Langyuan

AU - Shalom, Menny

AU - Noked, Malachi

PY - 2024/1/1

Y1 - 2024/1/1

N2 - Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with near-neutral electrolytes hold promise as cheap, safe and sustainable devices, but they suffer from slow charge kinetics and remain poorly studied. Here we reveal a charge storage mechanism of near-neutral Zn-air batteries that is mediated by formation of dissolved hydrogen peroxide upon cell discharge and its oxidation upon charge. This H2O2-mediated pathway facilitates oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at ~1.5 V vs. Zn2+/Zn, reducing charge overpotentials by ~0.2–0.5 V and mitigating carbon corrosion—a common issue in ZABs. The manifestation of this mechanism strongly depends on the electrolyte composition and positive electrode material, contributing up to ~60 % of the capacity with ZnSO4 solutions and carbon nanotubes. Enhancing the H2O2-mediated pathway offers a route to higher energy efficiency and durability in near-neutral ZABs, advancing practical, sustainable energy storage.

AB - Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with near-neutral electrolytes hold promise as cheap, safe and sustainable devices, but they suffer from slow charge kinetics and remain poorly studied. Here we reveal a charge storage mechanism of near-neutral Zn-air batteries that is mediated by formation of dissolved hydrogen peroxide upon cell discharge and its oxidation upon charge. This H2O2-mediated pathway facilitates oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at ~1.5 V vs. Zn2+/Zn, reducing charge overpotentials by ~0.2–0.5 V and mitigating carbon corrosion—a common issue in ZABs. The manifestation of this mechanism strongly depends on the electrolyte composition and positive electrode material, contributing up to ~60 % of the capacity with ZnSO4 solutions and carbon nanotubes. Enhancing the H2O2-mediated pathway offers a route to higher energy efficiency and durability in near-neutral ZABs, advancing practical, sustainable energy storage.

KW - Energy storage

KW - near-neutral electrolyte

KW - Oxygen reduction reaction

KW - Zn-air battery

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211786253&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/anie.202418792

DO - 10.1002/anie.202418792

M3 - Article

C2 - 39629883

AN - SCOPUS:85211786253

SN - 1433-7851

JO - Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

JF - Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

ER -