Unlike most common disposable and rechargeable batteries used today, zinc-air batteries are powered by exposing zinc metal powder and electrolyte, to oxygen from the air to generate electricity. The zinc-air battery user literally removes a tab to break the seal, allowing air to flow into the cell, activating the battery and generating an electric current.

The MetAir™ technology results in zinc-air batteries with very high energy densities packaged in smaller and lighter form factors. Because air from the atmosphere is a reactant in the cathode and not packaged within the battery, a cell has more room to store and use the zinc metal “fuel” in the anode to increase capacity or run time.

As a result, MetAir™ Cells have a higher energy-to-weight ratio than any other commercially available primary battery and a long stable shelf life of up to 5 years, due to an extremely low self-discharge rate of less than 5% per year (sealed). Zinc-air batteries are also considered environmentally friendly – “clean and green energy sources” – safe, non-combustible, non-toxic and contain no added mercury, cadmium, lead or lithium.

Learn more about zinc-air technology here.

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