High-performance neutral Zn–air batteries: revolutionizing energy storage with concurrent hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis

Abstract

Renewable energy is being increasingly integrated into the global power system, requiring advanced energy storage solutions to address intermittency issues and improve utilization efficiency. Neutral zinc–air batteries capable of concurrent energy storage and high-value H₂O₂ production represent a promising solution, though their development is hindered by poor performance and limited practical applications. Here, we developed an oxygen-functionalized Co–N–C single-atom catalyst specifically for neutral media, which addresses both thermodynamic and kinetic challenges in H₂O₂ electrosynthesis. As a result, the assembled neutral zinc–air battery exhibits exceptional performance in neutral electrolytes, achieving a record-high H₂O₂ production current density of ∼44 mA cm⁻² at 1.0 V—surpassing the typical current densities (<2 mA cm⁻²) reported for conventional neutral zinc–air batteries—while delivering a maximum power output of 70 mW cm⁻². Moreover, the battery demonstrates superior cycling stability, sustaining 900 stable reversible charge–discharge cycles over 300 h of continuous testing. On this basis, we propose innovative application scenarios for our developed neutral zinc–air battery in self-powered wastewater treatment and disinfection systems, showcasing the potential of neutral zinc–air batteries in integrating energy storage with on-site H₂O₂ electrosynthesis.