Metal–air electrochemical cell

Common card · No. 423183

A metal-air electrochemical cell, or metal-air battery, uses a pure-metal anode and an external air cathode, typically with an aqueous or aprotic electrolyte. The metal oxidizes at the anode while oxygen from the air is reduced at the cathode. Because the oxygen is taken from the air rather than stored in the cell, metal-air batteries have a much higher theoretical specific energy than lithium-ion batteries, approaching that of gasoline. The technology has seen commercial success in specific applications, most notably zinc–air batteries, which are widely used in hearing aids and railway signaling due to their high energy density and safety. Other chemistries, such as lithium–air, aluminium–air, and iron–air, are the subject of intense research for grid-scale storage and electric vehicle applications. Despite their high potential, the development of rechargeable (secondary) metal–air cells has been hindered by significant technical challenges. These include the sluggish kinetics of the...

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