Development of robust cathodes for pressurized, gravity-driven zinc-air batteries - Part II

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Off-grid communities and industrial sites, such as those in Northern Ontario, often rely on diesel powered generators for both primary and back-up power. These generators contribute to air and noise pollution and emit greenhouse gases. e-Zinc is commercializing a low cost, safe and environmentally benign, zinc-air battery which can be integrated into micro-grids with solar/wind power and are designed to deliver energy for long-durations (> 24h). These systems can eliminate the need for diesel generators altogether. The gravity driven design of e-Zinc's battery reduces pumping and overall storage costs but leads to a unique challenge in that the air-breathing cathodes must operate under large hydrostatic pressures. In collaboration with the Pope Group at the University of Waterloo, e-Zinc aims to design a completely new cathode design which can resist even higher pressures as they scale up the size of their system. Expanding on the team's initial work which showcased a promising proof-of-concept air-cathode, the team will investigate new methods to reduce electrode flooding, more stable catalysts and improve the throughput of the novel laser-based production approach used to create the cathodes from a biomass-derived polymer resin. The success of this project will help e-Zinc to more rapidly scale their system and to improve energy utilization efficiency of micro-grids - in particular for off-grid communities. In addition to the expected economic benefits and increased job opportunities that will arise in manufacturing the new air cathodes and scaled zinc-air batteries, the expected reduction in pollution and greenhouse gases are expected to positively impact all Canadians - in particular those in off-grid communities.