An overview of metal-air batteries, current progress, and future perspectives

Regarding the growing problems concerning energy requirements and the environment, the progress of renewable and green energy-storage devices has captured the attention of researchers. Metal-air batteries (MABs), predominantly rechargeable MABs are considered to be the potential energy conversion/storage solution due to their low cost, high specific energy, and power density as well as safety. However, the development of metal-air batteries is considerably hampered due to their inferior rate capability, dendrites formation, and corrosion during electrochemical reactions, sluggish kinetics of oxygen reactions at the cathode, and less development in the field of material design strategies, electrode, electrolyte modification as well as a good selection of separator. In this review, different types of metal-air batteries, the basics of battery configuration and electrode reactions, the role of electrode materials, electrolyte and separator, and further modifications, as well as future aspects, are thoroughly discussed for the understanding of viewers.