The work aims to improve electrochemical properties of alkaline zinc electrode and its corrosion resistance by taking Schiff base quaternary ammonium gemini surfactant as electrolyte additive. Effects of three Schiff base quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants (D1, D2, D3) on electrochemical properties of zinc electrode were studied in electrochemical methods including weight loss method, Tafel polarization curve method and AC impedance method. Composition and morphology of the zinc sheet soaked in 6 mol/L KOH (saturated ZnO) electrolyte for 48 h were studied with X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At room temperature, corrosion inhibition rate increased with the Schiff base quaternary ammonium salt surfactant concentration increased, and changed slightly as the concentration further increased. The corrosion inhibition capacity of D3 in the three surfactants was the highest, and the corrosion inhibition rate was up to 95.67%. The effect of corrosion inhibition was D3>D2>D1, belonging to the inhibition of anodic corrosion inhibitor. D1, D2 and D3 as electrolyte additives can effectively reduce corrosion, deformation, passivation and dendrite formation of zinc electrode, and improve the electrochemical properties of alkaline zinc electrode. D1, D2 and D3 are suitable to be used as corrosion inhibitors of alkaline zinc batteries.