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ICMAB Research

Unlocking high power in membraneless Zn–air batteries: A paradigm shift via wireless bipolar electrochemistry
25 September 2026

A new paper has been published in Energy Storage Materials

Electrolytes in electrochemical cells, including batteries, are required to be only ionic conductors. However, new battery arrangements including electronic conducting materials within the electrolyte, acting as bipolar wireless electrodes, have recently proven to enhance battery performance. Despite being counterintuitive, the observed effects are highly relevant. The supporting phenomenon is related with the induction of polarization in what become wireless bipolar electrodes, during battery actuation. Bipolar electrochemistry applied to recent model batteries has been proven to decrease substantially the ohmic and charge transfer resistance of the cell, increasing power density and lowering overpotential, which involve an increase in the limit current density and an extension of the battery life. This work focuses on the use of bipolar electrodes in the electrolyte of alkaline membraneless Zn/Air batteries, a system with high prospective interest. Pt and Zn bipolar electrodes are used in various combinations and geometric configurations, aiming to find the significance of design geometry, and reactivity at bipolar electrodes, in each battery parameter. In all cases, ohmic resistance is massively lowered (up 64%), while charge transfer resistance is decreased even more. Power density increases up to 80% (volumetric) for specific configurations, while the limit current density increased > 50%. Overpotentials decrease even 300 mV depending on the current used. The actual values depend greatly on the material chosen and the geometric configuration of the bipolar electrodes. This paper explains how certain key parameters of bipolar electrochemistry in energy storage can be designed to tailor the induced dipole for desired applications.

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Unlocking high power in membraneless Zn–air batteries: A paradigm shift via wireless bipolar electrochemistry


Mosqueda, M.; Bengoa, L. A.; Goni, S.; Casan-Pastor, N.

Energy Storage Materials 90 (2026) 105418
DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2026.105418