Discharge performance of Mg–Zn–Y alloys by regulating quasicrystal I phase as anodes for Mg-air battery

To investigate the influence of the morphology and amount of quasicrystal I phase on discharge performance, a comparative study is conducted on the discharge characteristics of Mg-2.4Zn-0.4Y (ZW-1), Mg-3.6Zn-0.6Y (ZW-2), and Mg-4.8Zn-0.8Y (ZW-3). As the content of Zn and Y rises, the amount of quasicrystal I phase increases, and its morphology transforms from dot-like to strip-like structures. ZW-1 exhibits the best corrosion resistance and discharge performance, followed by ZW-2, with ZW-3 performing the worst. Based on the electrochemical results and characterization, the quasicrystal I phase can enhance the dissolution of the magnesium anode throughout the discharge process. Nonetheless, an excess of the quasicrystal I phase increases galvanic corrosion, leading to unstable discharge voltage and reduced anode efficiency.