Design and electrochemical characteristics of single-layer cathode for flexible tubular type zinc-air fuel cells

A cathode of zinc-air fuel cells (ZAFCs) comprises a catalyst layer and a diffusion layer. We propose a new type of cathode, which overcomes the disadvantages of a double-layer cathode used in ZAFCs. To improve the performance of the single-layer cathode, dispersing the particles and reducing their size in the cathode mixture were conducted. The single-layer cathode had the same hydrophobicity as with the diffusion layer of the double-layer cathode and showed better electrochemical properties than the catalyst layer of the double-layer cathode. The single-layer cathode had a dense microstructure and a flat surface. The electrochemical performance and mechanical strength of the single-layer cathode were superior to those of a double-layer cathode. We showed single-layer cathode cell had better electrochemical performance than the double-layer cathode cell through a newly designed flexible-tubular-type ZAFC.