Performance of zinc-air fuel cells with different cathode surface structures

This paper presents a cathode surface structure to improve the performance of a zinc-air fuel cell (ZAFC). The electrolyte of the zinc-air fuel cell was made by mixing organic inhibitor with a potassium hydroxide solution. Open-circuit voltage performance test and constant-current discharge test were carried out to investigate the differences in voltage-current characteristics and power density of the zinc-air fuel cells with different cathode surface structures and to compare the corrosion resistances of different air-cathodes in the electrolyte. The materials analysis and microstructure observation of air-cathodes after discharging were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Experimental results show that a protection layer on the air-cathode can increase the durability and corrosion resistance of the electrode. This electrode structure is able to decrease corrosion damage occurred at the air-cathode surface and provide a stable electrochemical reaction. It can improve the utilization of the air-cathode greatly in the zinc-air fuel cell.