Dec 2006
A novel nano catalyst material embedded in a paper-thin electrode, has lead to a 320% increase in power from cathodes used in zinc-air batteries, says developer QuantumSphere Inc, Santa Ana, CA., (qsinano.com). Primary zinc-air batteries already offer three to six times the energy of equivalently sized alkaline batteries. The recent finding suggests zinc-air batteries could deliver at least 7 times the power and energy density of existing alkaline batteries. QuantumSphere has identified a global battery partner for this application and CEO, Kevin Maloney, cautions there is some work to be done before commercializing the development.
“The improvements unlock higher-power applications previously viewed as impractical for this class of battery,” says Robert Dopp, zinc-air expert and a collaborator with QuantumSphere and president and chief scientist at DoppStein Enterprises, Inc., Atlanta, GA. “Our companies collaborated to find the most effective catalyst and the best ways to apply it to gas-diffusion electrodes. The improvement involves little increase in cost and eliminates mercury, a material the European Union has recently mandated removed from all batteries.
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