The electrochemical oxidation behaviors of Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn and Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn electrodes in 0.7 mol L-1 NaCl solution are investigated by methods of potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic oxidation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phase composition of Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn and Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn alloys is analyzed conducted by X-ray diffraction. The performances of Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn and Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn as the anode of Mg-H2O2 semi fuel cells are determined. The effect of Zn content on the corrosion resistant of these Mg-Li-based alloys is studied. It is found that the Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn electrode has higher discharge activity and less corrosion resistance than that of Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn electrode in 0.7 mol L-1 NaCl solution. The Mg-H2O2 semi fuel cell with Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn anode presents a maximum power density of 100 mW cm(-2) at room temperature, which is higher than that of Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn anode (80 mW cm 2). The performance of semi fuel cell with the Mg-8Li-3Al-0.5Zn electrode is better than that with Mg-8Li-3Al-1.0Zn electrode, especially at higher current density (>30 mA cm(-2)). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.