Iron-Air Battery Chemistry FAQ

Iron Air Cells

The Iron/Air is another of the air-electrode batteries. The electrochemistry is as follows:

Half Reaction	Voltage
O2 + 2Fe +2H2O=2Fe(OH)2
O2 +2H2O +2e=H2O2 +2(OH)

These batteries require a high degree of support, since the CO₂ must be taken out of the air in order to prevent potassium carbonates forming in the KOH electrolyte. They have been built in large backup systems. The air electrode consists of a catalyst on a support. For example a carbon particle substrate held together with Teflon, coated with a silver complex catalyst. Support is provided by a silver-plated nickel screen.