Oxygen-Enriched Air from Natural-Zeolite PSA to Improve Al–Air Battery Discharge Performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.11913Keywords:
Oxygen-rich air, Zeolite adsorbent, PSA, Heating time, Discharge products, Al-air batttery, Discharge capacityAbstract
In the present study, oxygen-rich air produced from ambient air over a zeolite adsorbent by a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system has been investigated for use as a cathode source in aluminum-air (Al-air) batteries. Four types of natural zeolite adsorbent samples were prepared by varying the microwave heating time at a frequency of 2.45 GHz between 30 and 120 min. The synthesized samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The samples were tested to measure the degree of oxygen purity produced by the PSA system. The performance of the produced oxygen was tested as a cathode in discharge experiments in an Al-air battery. The effect of oxygen purity on the cell’s discharge performance was investigated by analyzing the increased amount of discharge products formed on the porous TiO2 cathode. It has been found that the samples prepared with a heating time of 60 min had the highest volume of mesoporous structures and thus generated an oxygen purity of 73.01%. Additionally, the amount of discharge products formed on the porous TiO2 cathode decreases as oxygen purity increases. At an oxygen purity of 73.01%, the lowest percentage of discharge products was found bound to the porous TiO2 cathode surface. This results in a cathode with the highest proportion of mesoporous volume and the highest discharge capacity value of 817.12 mAh/g.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Oxygen-enriched air is produced by natural zeolite PSA and is used as a cathode source for Al-air batteries.
- Natural zeolite prepared by NaOH activation followed by 2.4 GHz microwave heating at 110 °C for 60 min had the highest volume of mesoporous structures and generated the highest oxygen purity of 73.01%.
- A cathode with the highest oxygen purity achieved the highest discharge capacity of 817.12 mAh/g.
- Higher oxygen purity effectively prevents the formation of pore-clogging discharge products on the cathode surface.
- This work demonstrates the technological feasibility of converting ordinary air into commercial oxygen or oxygen-enriched air for industrial processes related to battery storage and conversion technologies.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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