In our continued efforts to find an electrically rechargeable zn/air secondary battery, we report the unique behavior of a zinc oxide anode in the presence of additives such as phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid and citric acid. These additives were added to the electrolyte, which is an 8.5 M KOH solution containing 25 g of ZnO and 3000 ppm of polyethylene glycol in I I of water. In zn/air systems there are two main problems namely the hydrogen overpotential and dendrite formation during recharging. Investigations have studied in detail both of the problems in order to overcome them. The results obtained in presence of additives are compared with the behavior of the electrolyte 8.5 M KOH in the absence of additives. It has been concluded that the hydrogen overpotential is raised enormously while dendrite formation is reduced to some extent. Out of the four acids studied, the order of increase in hydrogen overpotential is: tartaric acid > succinic acid > phosphoric acid > citric acid. The prevention of dendrite formation follows the order: citric acid > succinic acid > tartaric acid > phosphoric acid. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.