Toward Self‐Supported Bifunctional Air Electrodes for Flexible Solid‐State Zn–Air Batteries
Xixi Wang,
Lei Xu,
Chuan Zhou,
Ngie Hing Wong,
Jaka Sunarso,
Ran Ran,
Wei Zhou,
Zongping Shao
Affiliations
Xixi Wang
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
Lei Xu
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
Chuan Zhou
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
Ngie Hing Wong
Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and Science Swinburne University of Technology Jalan Simpang Tiga Kuching Sarawak 93350 Malaysia
Jaka Sunarso
Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and Science Swinburne University of Technology Jalan Simpang Tiga Kuching Sarawak 93350 Malaysia
Ran Ran
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
Wei Zhou
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
Zongping Shao
State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering College of Chemical Engineering Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 210009 China
The demand for flexibility and rechargeability in tandem with high energy density, reliability, and safety in energy‐storage devices to power wearable electronics has translated to significant advances in flexible solid‐state Zn–air batteries (FSZABs) technology. FSZABs using self‐supported bifunctional air electrodes are currently one of the most attractive alternatives to Li‐ion battery technology for next‐generation wearable electronics. Unlike the conventional powder‐based air electrodes, self‐supported bifunctional air electrodes offer higher electron‐transfer rate, larger specific surface area (and catalyst–reactant–product interfacial contact area), mechanical flexibility, and better operational robustness. To realize their potential nonetheless, self‐supported bifunctional air electrodes should have high and stable bifunctional catalytic activity, low cost, and environmental compatibility. This review first summarizes the three typical configurations and working principles of FSZABs. Then, significant development of self‐supported bifunctional air electrodes for FSZABs and efficient synthesis strategies are emphasized. The review concludes by providing perspectives on how to further improve the electrochemical performance of FSZABs and their suitability for next‐generation wearable electronic devices.
