Determination of The Elemental Composition in Al-Air Battery Materials

The performance and longevity of aluminium-air (Alair) batteries are highly dependent on the purity of the aluminium anode. Impurities such as iron, silicon, and copper can significantly impact battery efficiency by promoting corrosion and passivation, which hinder electrochemical reactions. To ensure optimal battery performance, high-purity aluminum (≥99.99% or 4N) is often recommended, as lower purity levels can lead to the formation of unwanted surface layers that degrade functionality.

Accurately determining the elemental composition of battery materials are therefore essential for ensuring quality and optimizing performance. However, aluminum alloys contain a wide range of elements, from major components like iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) to trace impurities such as lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), with concentrations varying from percentage levels to parts per billion. This diversity presents analytical challenges, requiring a technique with high sensitivity, a broad dynamic range, and the ability to reliably differentiate trace elements from high-concentration matrix elements while minimizing spectral interferences.