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The performance of Al-air batteries in 4 M NaOH containing ZnO or ZnO/cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) hybrid inhibitor is studied by constant current discharge test. The characteristics of aluminum anodes after discharge are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX). The corrosion behavior of aluminum electrodes in 4 M NaOH containing ZnO or ZnO/CTAB is studied by means of hydrogen collection and potentiodynamic polarization. SEM and EDAX results indicate that CTAB can greatly improve the deposition of zinc so that a uniform and compact zinc layer covers on the aluminum surface.Due to the low atomic mass and the negative electrode potential, aluminum potentially attracts as an outstanding anode material for Alair battery with a high theoretical energy density. 1-3 The electrolyte is one of the important components of Al-air battery. Al-air batteries in various electrolytes such as saline, alkaline, and non-aqueous have been studied by many researchers over the past few decades. 4-6 However, Al-air batteries still encounter many challenges. For instance, a protective oxide film forms spontaneously on the aluminum surface in neutral or non-aqueous electrolytes, which retards the active dissolution of aluminum anode. Additionally, severe self-corrosion of aluminum causes the fuel loss during standby in alkaline electrolytes. 7-9 So far, these problems are still not effectively resolved so that the business applications of Al-air batteries have been hindered. One effective method to mitigate the corrosion of aluminum in alkaline solutions is to add inhibitors to the electrolytes. 10-12 Many researchers found that zinc oxide can significantly inhibit the corrosion of aluminum anodes in alkaline solutions. 13 But, if the alkaline solution only contains zinc oxide inhibitor, the deposited zinc covering on the aluminum surface is loose and spongy, which means that the inhibition of the corrosion of aluminum anodes may not sustain for a long time. As a result, in order to obtain a better deposited zinc layer covering on the aluminum surface, numerous researchers tried to add another additive to improve the deposition of zinc. 14,15 Wang found that the addition of dimethyl amine epoxy propane (DE) to the zincate-containing alkaline solution can bring about a granular zinc on the aluminum surface. But Wang mainly paid attention to the electrochemical performance of aluminum anode in the alkaline solution containing ZnO/DE hybrid inhibitor but ignored the Al-air battery performance. 16 Zhu studied the influence of some surfactants on the electrochemical behavior of zinc electrodes in alkaline solution. The results revealed that the surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) can bring about a significant improvement in the morphology of the deposition of zinc. 17 Besides, the addition of surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) into alkaline solution can also inhibit the corrosion of aluminum anodes. 18 However, so far, the electrolyte system o...