In recent years, with the increasing demand for energy storage technology, there is an urgent need for more efficient, lower cost, and more stable Zinc-Air Batteries (ZABs) devices to adapt. Therefore, how to improve the air cathode catalyst is a problem that cannot be bypassed. In order to solve this key problem, the synthesis and application of ZABs air cathode catalysts, especially cobalt phosphide materials (2019 to early 2024), are discussed in this paper. The synthesis scheme and purpose of cobalt phosphide and its derivatives are briefly evaluated in the selected literature. The performance of ZABs devices assembled with air cathode catalyst is also reviewed. Finally, the development in recent years is described, and the future development is prospected. this work may be for the future air cathode catalyst cobalt phosphate and its derivatives ZABs studies provide some guidance.