Buckling resistant current collector

A zinc-air battery comprising:

• a zinc anode;
• an air cathode;
• a wire mesh current collector comprising:
• a wire warp comprising a first nickel alloy, wherein the first nickel alloy wire comprises 90 wt % to 99 wt % nickel and 1 wt % to 10 wt % aluminum;
• a wire weft comprising a second nickel alloy;
• wherein:
• the first and second nickel alloys are substantially insoluble in an aqueous caustic electrolyte;
• the warp exhibits a microhardness from about 180 kgf/mm2 to about 350 kgf/mm2, and the weft exhibits a microhardness from about 90 kgf/mm2 to about 150 kgf/mm2;
• a wire of the warp prior to incorporation in the mesh exhibits a resistivity of from about 2×10−7 Ωm to about 5×10−7 Ωm at 20° C.;
• a wire of the warp prior to incorporation in the mesh exhibits a peak tensile strength of greater than 140 ksi;
• and
• a wire of the warp prior to incorporation in the mesh exhibits a Young's Modulus of from about 180 GPa to about 240 GPa.

A wire mesh comprising:

• a warp comprising a first nickel alloy wire having a first peak tensile strength;
• a weft comprising a wire comprising nickel and having a second peak tensile strength;
• wherein:
• the first peak tensile strength is greater than or equal to the second peak tensile strength;
• and
• the first nickel alloy wire comprises 90 wt % to 99 wt % nickel and 1 wt % to 10 wt % aluminum.