In-Liquid Plasma Recycling Method of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Zinc nanoparticles applied in the production of zinc–air batteries provide the highest specifi c energy among various metal–air combinations used in batteries in practice. Recent technical advances provide an opportunity to successfully solve the problems experienced during the early development of batteries of this type. For example, there is a major limitation in recharging cycles due to the massive formation of zinc oxide. In the present work, a reduction process is proposed on the basis of the use of alcohol solvent by applying microwave in-liquid plasma. The occurrence of reduction was confi rmed by calculating the chemical potential of ethanol and methanol as well as spectra of plasma emission in the temperature range 1500–2000 K. Characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was carried out by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy.