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New catalyst brings commercial high-efficiency zinc-air batteries closer to reality - EurekAlert


The effective conversion from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy sources requires cost-efficient, high-capacity, rechargeable batteries. Zinc-air batteries (ZAB) can theoretically store large amounts of energy, but current technologies require the use of expensive noble metal catalysts, or agents that speed a chemical reaction, that underperform in charging and discharging reactions. A new metal-nitrogen-carbon catalyst has been developed for use in ZABs that exceeds the performance of noble metal catalysts, improving the efficiency and practicality of ZAB technology.The effective conversion from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy sources requires cost-efficient, high-capacity, rechargeable batteries. Zinc-air batteries (ZAB) can theoretically store large amounts of energy, but current technologies require the use of expensive noble metal catalysts, or agents that speed a chemical reaction, that underperform in charging and discharging reactions. A new metal-nitrogen-carbon catalyst has been developed for use in ZABs that exceeds the performance of noble metal catalysts, improving the efficiency and practicality of ZAB technology.

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