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Journal of Alternate Energy Sources & Technologies Review Article

Na-Air Battery: The Battery of the Future—A Review

  1. Mitasha Swain Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie Supérieure ÉTS, Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3C 1K3
  2. Rama B. Swain Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, Gandhi Institute for Technology, Bhubaneswar

Abstract

Metal-ion batteries came into the limelight with the invention of Zn-ion battery as early as 1878, but its commercial viability came into picture in 1990 and lithium-ion cell in 1977. Since then, a number of metals have been experimented upon and similar rechargeable secondary storage batteries like Al-ion, Na-ion, Sn-ion, Mg-ion, K-ion have been developed. In this type of battery, electrochemical dynamics involves the movement of only one kind of ion between two electrodes (anode and cathode) during its charging and discharging. In spite of its advantages over earliest traditional batteries, it suffers from certain limitations like environmental incompatibility, cost economy, lower energy density, formation of solid electrolyte interphase, dendrite formation, thermal issues, decomposition of metallic electrodes, degradation of electrolytes, quick reduction in its efficiency, etc. To alleviate these issues, secondary energy storage units like metal-air batteries are now moving into limelight (the first MAB being Zn-air, which was commercialized in 1932), which reduces free air from atmosphere and oxidizes the metal anode (made of metals of alkali groups like Li, Na, Mg, Zn, etc.). They have better properties like higher energy density, higher theoretical specific capacity, light weight, better reversibility, longer life cycle, lower over-potential, higher round-trip efficiency, environmental friendliness, and cost economy etc. In spite of these benefits, it suffers due to its interdependency on various external and internal factors such as choice of electrolyte based on its compatibility with both electrodes for smooth ion transition for better conductivity, type of use, development of adequate potential at both electrodes, design of right electrodes, selection of right separator, selection of electrocatalysts and internal mechanism during charging and discharging etc. Hence, development of a full-proof metal–air cell still remains in its nascent stage. The current review work has been compiled in three parts, the first part reviews the general metal-air battery and its current status, the second part reviews research works done till now by various researchers on one of its components, that is, electrodes of metal-air battery) with reference to Na-air battery, and the third part deals with its other component, that is, electrolytes and current research. Then, the outcomes of various research works done so far on these three parts have been compiled in tabular form and critically analyzed. Finally, recommendations based on reviews of these latest research works have been outlined by the authors with few suggestions for future works.

Keywords

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