This brief review reveals the possibility of solar charging of Zn–air batteries. It describes the various configurations that have been adopted in order to employ solar radiation to directly charge Zn–air batteries, paying particular attention to simple constructions with a minimum number of components.
The solar to battery charging efficiency was 8.5%, which was nearly the same as the solar cell efficiency, leading to potential loss-free energy transfer to the battery.
Conventional design of solar charging batteries involves the use of batteries and solar modules as two separate units connected by electric wires. Advanced design involves the integration of in situ battery storage in solar modules, thus offering compactness and fewer packaging requirements with the potential to become less costly.
In conclusion, we have successfully incorporated solar energy capturing into the charging process of a rechargeable zinc–air battery which integrates the semiconducting photoelectrode as air electrode. Under sunlight illumination, the photoelectrode undergoes photoexcitation and generates holes and electrons.
Nature Communications 10, Article number: 4767 (2019) Cite this article Directly harvesting solar energy for battery charging represents an ultimate solution toward low-cost, green, efficient and sustainable electrochemical energy storage.
Conclusions Zn-air batteries can be charged by solar energy conversion leading to direct energy storage in the battery by converting ZnO into metallic Zn, which is deposited on the Zn electrode. Both photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic charging is possible. Metallic Zn is obtained by reduction of Zn 2+ cations.