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:https://doi.org/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

Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

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

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
Early online date	4 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418792
State	Published - 27 Jan 2025

Keywords

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

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Chemistry
Catalysis

UN SDGs

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

Access to Document

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418792

Cite this

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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 ~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.",

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

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 = "2025",

month = jan,

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doi = "https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418792",

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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 - 2025/1/27

Y1 - 2025/1/27

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 - Oxygen reduction reaction

KW - Zn-air battery

KW - near-neutral electrolyte

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JO - Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

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