A Swiss company claims that its zinc air batteries can store three times more energy than lithium-ion batteries and, furthermore, they cost half the price.
Revolt Technology, a company based in Staefa, Switzerland, claims that its zinc air batteries can “store three times more energy than lithium-ion batteries, by volume, while its cost is reduced by half” as Unlike other existing air batteries, this would be rechargeable.
Unlike conventional batteries, which contain all the reagents needed to generate electricity, the zinc-air batteries are based on atmospheric oxygen to generate power.
Make rechargeable batteries has been a challenge. Inside the battery, a porous electrode “air” is based on oxygen and with the help of catalysts, is reduced to form hydroxyl ions. These go through an electrolyte to the zinc electrode, where the oxidized zinc – a reaction that releases electrons to generate a current. To recharge, the process is reversed: the zinc oxide is converted back to zinc and oxygen is released into the air electrode. But after several cycles of loading and unloading, the air electrode can be turned off, slowing or stopping the reactions of oxygen. This may be due, for example, the liquid electrolyte was withdrawn gradually. The battery may also fail if it dries or whether zinc accumulates so uneven, forming branching structures that create a short circuit between the electrodes.
Revolt Technology plans to begin selling the smaller batteries for hearing aids and then gradually escalating to go to the sale of portable electronic devices and electric cars.
