The zinc-air battery cell has an average voltage
of 1.3v and has about twice the energy density of the
lithium battery. It creates energy by oxidizing the
zinc in the electrolyte. The oxygen for this process
is absorbed from the surrounding air through the hole in
the positive electrode.
Basic buildup
.---------------. negative
| ____ air | electrode
|#|/ `-----._____|#|
|#| Zinc |#|
|#| electrolyte |#|
|#|.................|#|
|##===="""""""""====##|
`--------- ---------' positive
air electrode
hole
Legend
... Separator
="= Carbon
### nylon insulator
When a zinc-air cell is
manufactured, the air hole is
sealed with a
tape, that must be removed before the battery
is put into
service. The cell has a shelf-life of up to five
years. When the
seal is broken it can supply
power for up to
between one and four months, depending on
load. The
capacity of a zinc-air cell is also dependant on air moisture
and
CO2 contents. It is most used in hearing aids, but
is also available for use in
mobile communication devices.