Grant: Idea to Innovation

Development of inexpensive, safe and environmentally benign energy storage technologies to replace lithium ion batteries are imperative in order to realize the immense benefits of electric vehicles and smart grid systems both in Canada and globally. Rechargeable Zinc-air (Zn-air)batteries provide several times higher energy storage densities than that of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and use inexpensive, non-hazardous component materials. Rechargeable Zn-air batteries are considered extremely attractive candidates owing to the low cost and abundant global availability of zinc, while also possessing several times higher energy storage densities and extremely safe operation in comparison to Li-ion batteries. At the current stage of rechargeable Zn-air battery technology, the primary barrier hindering marketability is the lack of a commercially available air electrode bifunctional electrocatalyst. The proposed project focuses on the development and commercialization of inexpensive, high performance bifunctional materials as air electrode catalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries. Currently, Dr. Zhongwei Chen's research group at the University of Waterloo has developed patented, high performance and operationally stable bifunctional nanostructured core-corona bifunctional catalysts (CCBC). The present proposal entails the optimization of our patented CCBC synthesis, along with scaling up the manufacturing process while simultaneously ensuring quality control and product consistency. It is expected that the proposed research outcomes will represent immense progress on the current state of the CCBC technology in terms of battery performance and stability, and by successfully scaling up the production process can result in production of a sufficient quantity of low cost, high performance CCBC bifunctional catalysts that can be integrated by zinc-air battery industrial manufacturers into commercially viable rechargeable zinc-air batteries for future generation smart grids and EVs. It is expected that the results of the proposed research will provide the potential breakthrough required for successful rechargeable Zn-air battery commercialization.