Fe-based air alkaline batteries are promising candidates for large scale energy storage due to their low cost, eco-friendliness and high energy density. In this work, pure iron was studied as negative electrode of Fe-air batteries with and without Na2S added to the KOH alkaline electrolyte in order to bring new insight on the mechanisms of inhibition of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and improvement of the electrochemical performances of the Fe electrode. Electrochemical (CV, galvanostatic discharge), spectroscopic (XPS, ToF-SIMS) and microscopic (SEM) analysis were applied to characterize the effect of the sulfide additive (Na2S) on the electrochemical behavior of Fe electrodes and their chemical and morphological modifications. Surface analysis performed by XPS and ToF-SIMS revealed the formation of a markedly thicker oxide/hydroxide layer. The mechanism of formation of this thick oxide/hydroxide layer is initiated by the adsorption of sulfur (S-ads) at the oxide/metal interface that inhibits the HER during the first stages of electrochemical process and promotes subsequent anodic oxidation. With the Na2S electrolyte additive, Fe(0)/Fe(II) conversion/deconversion is suppressed and charge/discharge proceeds mostly by Fe(II)/Fe(III) conversion/deconversion with improved capacity owing to the porous morphology of the oxide/hydroxide layer. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.