Zinc-air batteries in 2026: overview
Zinc-air batteries generate electricity through electrochemical reactions between zinc and oxygen from the air. Their use of abundant zinc and an air-breathing cathode makes them attractive for compact power and energy storage. In rechargeable designs, the air electrode must support both oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution. That bifunctional catalyst challenge, alongside zinc-anode stability and electrolyte management, remains central to improving performance and lifetime.
Recent work is widening the design space. In October 2026, Northeastern University reported TiO₂/TiN nanocone arrays for low-temperature, flexible zinc-air batteries. September 2026 studies included Guangdong University of Technology’s pore-engineered Zn/Co carbon catalyst and South China University of Technology’s XGBoost model for predicting performance and operating boundaries. Researchers are also targeting seawater operation, where chloride can damage electrodes, and longer cycling, where zinc dendrites and air-electrode degradation remain obstacles.
- 1Beyond single sites: Catalyst development is extending from isolated metal atoms to paired sites and engineered interfaces to balance oxygen-reaction activity with durability.
- 2System-level bottlenecks: Flooding, corrosion, sluggish reaction kinetics and zinc-anode instability link catalyst performance to electrode and electrolyte design.
- 3New operating conditions: Flexible cells, low-temperature operation and seawater-based designs are broadening research beyond conventional rechargeable cells.
Top organizations working on zinc-air batteries
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to zinc-air batteries. Showing 7 of 643 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 104 · NEWS 1 | -38% | Recently, researchers developed catalysts for seawater-based zinc–air batteries, targeting chloride tolerance in oxygen reduction. The work also explores atomically engineered catalysts for rechargeable cells and low-temperature operation. |
| 2 | 
Central South University
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 55 | -17% | Recently, researchers designed bifunctional Co/Fe catalysts and iron single-atom catalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries, addressing oxygen-reaction activity and durability. |
| 3 | 
Donghua University
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 38 · NEWS 10 | +143% | Recently, researchers engineered zinc nanosheet arrays for fiber-shaped zinc–air batteries and developed catalyst interfaces for long cycling. Their work spans both zinc-anode design and oxygen electrocatalysis. |
| 4 | 
Qingdao University of Science and Technology
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 47 | +24% | Recently, researchers developed photoactive Fe₂O₃–BiVO₄ heterostructures for photo-assisted zinc–air batteries. Their work also targets durable oxygen-reduction catalysts. |
| 5 | 
Nankai University
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 37 · NEWS 15 | +17% | Recently, researchers developed a self-sorted bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc–air batteries and tuned Fe single-atom sites to improve oxygen reduction. |
| 6 | 
Tsinghua University
Research · China |
Electrolyte and zinc-electrode engineering | PUB 46 | -47% | Recently, researchers developed a water-retaining hydrogel for zinc–air batteries operating across a wide temperature range. Other work addresses flexible-cell electrolytes and durable air-cathode catalysts. |
| 7 | 
Jiangsu University
Research · China |
Air-electrode catalysts | PUB 42 | +0% | Recently, researchers developed cobalt-oxide and manganese-based catalysts for oxygen reduction in zinc–air batteries. Their work focuses on non-precious-metal catalysts for rechargeable cells. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Leading research centers
Leading research institutions 596 total
- Chinese Academy of Sciences CASChinaRecently, researchers developed catalysts for seawater-based zinc–air batteries, targeting chloride tolerance in oxygen reduction. The work also explores atomically engineered catalysts for rechargeable cells and low-temperature operation.
- Central South UniversityChinaRecently, researchers designed bifunctional Co/Fe catalysts and iron single-atom catalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries, addressing oxygen-reaction activity and durability.
- Donghua UniversityChinaRecently, researchers engineered zinc nanosheet arrays for fiber-shaped zinc–air batteries and developed catalyst interfaces for long cycling. Their work spans both zinc-anode design and oxygen electrocatalysis.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where zinc-air batteries innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 643 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary cells | Primary cells use zinc once and are suited to applications needing long shelf life, but the cell cannot be electrically recharged. | 403 |
Donghua University, Nankai University, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS |
| Electrically rechargeable cells | Electrically rechargeable cells reverse the electrode reactions in place, but cycling depends on durable zinc electrodes and an air cathode that supports both oxygen reactions. | 1,823 |
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Central South University, Qingdao University of Science and Technology |
| Air-electrode catalysts | Air-electrode catalysts accelerate oxygen reactions, but improving activity without sacrificing stability across charge and discharge remains difficult. | 1,552 |
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Donghua University |
| Electrolyte and zinc-electrode engineering | Electrolyte and zinc-electrode engineering manages ion transport and zinc deposition, but must also limit side reactions and maintain cell performance. | 216 |
China Three Gorges University, 705 Engineering Research Center, The Ministry of Education |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
Funding data list $10,291,576 in grants across 16 awards since 2020, and $198,271,679 across 8 funding rounds. These are separate recorded funding categories.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Oct 2026Researchers have improved an experimental solar cell by controlling the directions in which it releases light. The design reduces a less familiar source of energy loss, opening another route toward turning more sunlight…Knowridge Science Report
- Aug 2026Newswise — Platinum-based catalysts have long been used to accelerate the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a key cathodic step in fuel cells and zinc–air batteries. Iron–nitrogen–carbon catalysts are attractive…Newswise Feature Channel: Chemistry
- Aug 2026Two Fraunhofer institutes and South Korea’s SGC Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding covering the development and industrialisation of battery systems and materials. The agreement brings together the…Battery
- May 2026Zinc air batteries have been a familiar sight for decades in the world of photography, where they provided an environmentally less dangerous alternative to mercury cells. They operate by the oxidation of metallic zinc…Blog – Hackaday
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about zinc-air batteries
Which universities and research centers lead zinc-air batteries research?
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS leads the listed recent research activity with 105 documents in the 24-month window, followed by Central South University with 55 and Nankai University with 52. Their work includes seawater-tolerant catalysts, bifunctional Co/Fe catalysts and iron single-atom sites. Donghua University is also active in zinc-anode design and fiber-shaped cells.
How much funding has zinc-air batteries received?
Funding data list $10,291,576 in grants across 16 awards since 2020, and $198,271,679 across 8 funding rounds. These figures are reported as separate categories. The listed funding entries include organizations such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Z & M Ltd.; the figures do not identify specific zinc-air projects for every entry.
Who holds the most zinc-air batteries patents?
Z & M Ltd. leads the listed patent holders with 4 patents, followed by Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research Csir with 3. Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences and Agc Carbon Inc. each have 2. The other listed holders, including Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Tufts University, have 1 each.
Is zinc-air batteries patent activity growing?
Yes. The data list 29 patents in the 24-month window and patent growth of 23.1%. This contrasts with a 10.6% decline in overall activity and an 8.3% decline in publications over the last 12 months. The patent trend indicates continued IP activity even as publication and overall activity measures have eased.
How mature is zinc-air batteries technology?
The field remains research-heavy: the data list 596 research organizations, 47 companies and 3 startups. Recent work focuses on improving rechargeable-cell catalysts, zinc-anode stability and electrolyte performance. This activity profile points to ongoing technical development rather than a startup-led ecosystem; the data do not establish commercial deployment or product performance.
What are the latest developments in zinc-air batteries?
In October 2026, Northeastern University reported TiO₂/TiN nanocone arrays for low-temperature flexible cells. In September 2026, Guangdong University of Technology reported pore-engineered Zn/Co-derived carbon catalysts for rechargeable batteries, while South China University of Technology used XGBoost modeling to predict performance and map operating boundaries. Recent work also targets chloride tolerance in seawater-based cells.
What new methods or terms are emerging in zinc-air batteries?
Catalyst activity, with 240 documents, and electrocatalysis, with 96, are among the emerging terms; single-atoms appears in 38 documents. Recent methods include paired Fe–Mo or Fe–Fe dual-atom sites, pore engineering in Zn/Co-derived carbon, and data-driven performance modeling. These approaches aim to improve oxygen-reaction kinetics, stability or prediction of operating limits.
What are the main approaches in zinc-air batteries and how do they differ?
Electrically rechargeable cells have 1,823 documents, air-electrode catalysts 1,552, primary cells 403, and electrolyte and zinc-electrode engineering 216. Primary cells are single-use, while electrically rechargeable cells reverse reactions in place. Catalyst research targets oxygen reactions; electrolyte and anode work addresses ion transport, zinc deposition and durability. Mechanical recharge is another system concept.
Which countries lead zinc-air batteries?
China leads with 6,464 documents, or 71.6% of the listed total, followed by the United States with 1,606, or 17.8%. India, Japan and South Korea are also active, with 604, 597 and 574 documents respectively. The country figures show a strong concentration of research and development activity in China.
What are the applications of zinc-air batteries?
The listed applications include hearing aids and medical devices, with 109 documents; long-duration grid storage, with 195; and transportation, with 153. Other areas are backup and telecommunications power, with 26 documents, and remote and off-grid power, with 30. These are application categories in the data, not measures of commercial adoption.