Wireless bipolar electrodes raise zinc-air battery power by 80%
Researchers have increased zinc-air battery power output by up to 80% by introducing wireless bipolar electrodes that reduce internal resistance without altering core chemistry.
A team from the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), and the National University of La Plata in Argentina developed a zinc-air battery architecture that boosts power output by up to 80% without changing its fundamental chemistry. The innovation was detailed in a study published in August in Energy Storage Materials, challenging the traditional method of excluding conductive materials from electrolytes to prevent short circuits.
The new design incorporates small conductive elements inside the battery that remain electrically isolated from the main electrodes and external circuit. These elements, described as wireless bipolar electrodes, polarize under the electric field generated between the battery’s electrodes, creating additional charge transport pathways without causing short circuits.
The approach specifically targets zinc-air batteries, where the oxygen-related electrochemical reaction limits operational speed despite zinc’s favorable oxidation properties and aqueous chemistry. By facilitating charge transport through the electrolyte, the wireless bipolar electrodes reduce internal resistance and associated energy losses, enabling higher power delivery.
The modification does not require changes to the battery’s core electrochemical materials, instead altering its internal architecture to enhance performance. The researchers propose that this concept could be applied to other energy storage technologies beyond zinc-air systems.