Zinc–air batteries can fulfill diversified application scenarios

Abstract

Zinc–air batteries have been laying in the laboratory for decades of years, enjoying the low-current density galvanostatic cycling test at comfortable room temperatures, almost forgetting their identity as the practical batteries. The best way to revive and reinvigorate zinc–air batteries is through career planning, particularly by analyzing their advantages and disadvantages and identifying their potential applications. This will help to chart a course for the future. Building on its unique advantages of utilizing aqueous electrolyte, being low-cost, and having high environmental adaptability, we have proposed a clear career plan with a focus on wearable devices, extreme temperatures, and marine applications. In this review, we discuss the inherent advantages, current advances, and future direction, intending to remind the battery that the Zn–air battery is intended for practical use to fulfill diverse scenarios.