SASTRA researchers develop nanofluid electrolyte and catalysts to improve electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries
Nanofluid electrolyte and earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts for electrically rechargeable zinc–air batteries
- DST’s Nano and Advanced Materials Division is reported as the funding/support agency for the zinc–air electrolyte and catalyst research.
What happened
SASTRA Deemed University (Thanjavur) developed a nanofluid electrolyte for electrically rechargeable zinc–air batteries. The nanofluid electrolyte is reported to be made by dispersing small amounts of inexpensive silica and zinc oxide nanoparticles into a standard electrolyte. The reported outcome includes improved cathode oxygen-reaction performance alongside suppression of parasitic hydrogen-related reactions and zinc corrosion. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) supported the work through its Nano and Advanced Materials Division.
Background and earlier position
UPSC can frame zinc–air battery research as an engineering trade-off problem: reduce zinc corrosion and parasitic hydrogen evolution without slowing oxygen reduction/oxygen evolution, while replacing costly noble-metal catalysts through electrolyte and catalyst design.
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