Research Article

Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery

Number: 2026-1 March 27, 2026

Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery

Abstract

Alkaline zinc-air batteries (ZABs) exhibit high theoretical energy density and capacity, along with intrinsic safety and cost-effectiveness. However, the widespread adoption of ZABs is hindered by various challenges, including the vigorous hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and zinc dendrite formation, which degrade discharge performance and increase safety risks. This study demonstrates a significant improvement in ZAB performance through the addition of an optimized concentration of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to the 7 M KOH electrolyte. Optimal performance was rigorously confirmed at 0.4 g Na2CO3. At this concentration, open-circuit potential-time profiles demonstrated exceptional stability, maintaining potentials around -0.39 V to -0.42 V over 600 seconds. Cyclic voltammetry revealed peak anodic currents of approximately 11 mA at ~-0.15 V for 0.4 g Na2CO3, indicative of superior zinc oxidation kinetics. Further, EIS analysis, encompassing both Bode and Nyquist plots, substantiated these findings, exhibiting higher charge transfer resistance and reducing the corrosion rate. This electrochemical characterization highlights the critical role of Na2CO3 as an electrolyte additive, with an optimal range that is crucial for balancing conductivity, suppressing passivation, and ensuring efficient redox reactions in zinc-air battery systems.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Electrochemistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

December 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 6, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 2026-1

APA
Garg, P., Kumar Shukla, S., & Varshney, P. K. (2026). Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry, 2026-1, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.1840941
AMA
1.Garg P, Kumar Shukla S, Varshney PK. Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery. JOTCSA. 2026;(2026-1):1-10. doi:10.18596/jotcsa.1840941
Chicago
Garg, Priya, Sudhish Kumar Shukla, and Pradeep K Varshney. 2026. “Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery”. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry, no. 2026-1: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.1840941.
EndNote
Garg P, Kumar Shukla S, Varshney PK (March 1, 2026) Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry 2026-1 1–10.
IEEE
[1]P. Garg, S. Kumar Shukla, and P. K. Varshney, “Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery”, JOTCSA, no. 2026-1, pp. 1–10, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.18596/jotcsa.1840941.
ISNAD
Garg, Priya - Kumar Shukla, Sudhish - Varshney, Pradeep K. “Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery”. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry. 2026-1 (March 1, 2026): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.1840941.
JAMA
1.Garg P, Kumar Shukla S, Varshney PK. Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery. JOTCSA. 2026;:1–10.
MLA
Garg, Priya, et al. “Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery”. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry, no. 2026-1, Mar. 2026, pp. 1-10, doi:10.18596/jotcsa.1840941.
Vancouver
1.Priya Garg, Sudhish Kumar Shukla, Pradeep K Varshney. Investigating the Effects of Carbonate Additives on Zn-Air Battery. JOTCSA. 2026 Mar. 1;(2026-1):1-10. doi:10.18596/jotcsa.1840941