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Zinc-air batteries are a type of metal-air battery technology that offers the potential for high energy density, inherent safety, and the use of affordable, earth-abundant materials. These characteristics have attracted interest for a wide range of energy storage applications, from hearing aids and sensors to large-scale stationary energy storage. Most zinc-air batteries commercially available today are ''primary cells'' (single-use), but there is growing research and development effort aimed at making zinc-air batteries ''secondary cells'' (rechargeable). This work is driven by the technology's promise to combine high performance with sustainability and low cost.

A typical zinc-air battery couples an oxygen reduction cathode with a zinc-based anode in an alkaline electrolyte. During discharge, oxygen from the air undergoes reduction at the cathode, while zinc metal at the anode is oxidized. In primary zinc-air batteries, the cathode is a porous gas diffusion electrode containing an oxygen reduction catalyst, such as manganese dioxide (MnO₂). The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) proceeds according to:

Rechargeable (secondary) zinc-air batteries use a bi-functional air cathode capable of both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during discharge and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charging.