Zn-air batteries have attracted much attention because of its high energy density, environmental friendliness, safety and low cost. The air cathode of is one of the most expensive cell components and a key factor in determining the performance of Zn-air battery. As the fuel, O2 availability to air-cathode is determined by the level of both its dissolution and diffusion in the electrolyte, and the electrocatalysis happens in the three-phase interface where the catalyst, electrolyte and O2 meet. Maximizing the performance of air-cathodes by rational design of catalyst structure is of significant importance. To date, various electrocatalysts have been developed with outstanding oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution activity, including heteroatom-doped carbon, transition metal nitrides/oxides/ sulfides, perovskite oxides, etc. More and more researchers are trying to apply the electrocatalysts into Zn-air battery prototypes. The aim of this review is to afford a better understanding of air-cathodes and provide guidelines for researchers to design and construct high-performance, easy-to-use cathodes for metal-air batteries.

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锌空气电池空气电极的最新进展：电催化和结构设计

锌空气电池因其高能量密度，环保，安全和低成本而备受关注。空气阴极是最昂贵的电池组件之一，也是决定锌空气电池性能的关键因素。作为燃料，空气阴极的O2可用性取决于其在电解质中的溶解和扩散水平，电催化作用发生在催化剂，电解质和O2相遇的三相界面中。通过合理设计催化剂结构来最大程度地提高空气阴极的性能非常重要。迄今为止，已开发出具有出色的氧还原反应和氧释放活性的各种电催化剂，包括杂原子掺杂的碳，过渡金属氮化物/氧化物/硫化物，钙钛矿氧化物等。越来越多的研究人员正在尝试将电催化剂应用于Zn-空气电池原型中。这篇综述的目的是让人们更好地了解空气阴极，并为研究人员设计和构造用于金属空气电池的高性能，易于使用的阴极提供指导。