Zinc-Air Battery

A zinc-air battery is a metal-air electrochemical cell powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen drawn from the air. During discharge, a mass of zinc particles forms a porous anode saturated with electrolyte, while oxygen reacts at the cathode to form hydroxyl ions that migrate into the zinc paste and form zincate, releasing electrons that travel to the cathode. The zincate then decays into zinc oxide, and water returns to the electrolyte, so the water at the anode is recycled rather than consumed. The reaction has a theoretical voltage of 1.65 volts, though available cells deliver closer to 1.35 to 1.4 volts.