Abstract
In this study, magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and aluminium (Al) as anode electrode and the solution of NaCl dissolved with 2~20 wt% as electrolytes were used for the metal-air cell. The open circuit voltage, short circuit current and I-V characteristics upon different kinds of anode electrode and electrolyte concentration were investigated. The open circuit voltage, initially about 1.45 V, rises to 1.6 V during the first 10 minutes indicating the necessity of an induction time to activate the catalyst on the air cathode. The short circuit current increases with an increased concentration of NaCl, causes an increase in the conductivity of the electrolyte solution, but the open circuit voltage did not under undergo influence of electrolyte. From NaCl 20 wt% electrolyte, the maximum output power of the magnesium electrode materials was measured with 177mW. It is found that the power characteristics of metal-air cell could be improved by using magnesium electrode materials in the NaCl electrolyte.
