Advantages and application progress of different phosphorus sources in aqueous zinc-air batteries cathode catalysts

The low efficiency and insufficient stability of catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have hindered the development of aqueous zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Phosphorus (P) can enhance catalytic performance by tuning the electronic structure of catalysts and constructing active sites. The choice of phosphorus source determines the environmental friendliness and safety of the resulting catalysts. To our knowledge, previous reviews have mainly focused on summarizing catalyst structural design. However, there is a lack of targeted analysis regarding the selection of phosphorus sources and their impacts on sustainability and practical applications. Against this backdrop, this review explicitly categorizes phosphorus sources into two major types, non-bio-derived phosphorus and bio-derived phosphorus, and comprehensively summarizes the research progress of catalysts modified with these two types of phosphorus sources in aqueous ZABs. From the perspectives of preparation safety, resource green utilization, and catalytic performance, the application prospects and limitations of both bio-derived and non-bio-derived phosphorus-modified catalysts are discussed. Furthermore, this study emphasizes that bio-derived phosphorus-modified catalysts can not only maintain excellent catalytic performance but also realize the resourceful recycling of agricultural wastes and the harmless utilization of pathogenic microorganisms.