Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide low cost bifunctional air electrodes. Various embodiments may provide a bifunctional air electrode, including a metal substrate and particles of metal and/or metal oxide catalyst and/or metal nitride catalyst coated on the metal substrate. Various embodiments may provide a bifunctional air electrode, including a first portion configured to engage an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a discharge mode and a second portion configured to engage an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a charge mode. Various embodiments may provide a method for making an air electrode including coating a metal substrate with particles of metal and/or metal oxide catalyst and/or metal nitride catalyst. Various embodiments may provide batteries including air electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide device architectures for batteries. In various embodiments, these may be primary or secondary batteries. In various embodiments these devices may be useful for energy storage. Various embodiments may provide a battery including an Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) electrode, an Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) electrode, a metal electrode; and an electrolyte separating the ORR electrode and the OER electrode from the metal electrode.