Peroxide-generating air purification element

An aircraft, comprising:

• a cabin;
• an airflow passage configured to confine a flow of air and direct the flow of air toward the cabin;
• and
• an air purification element positioned in the airflow passage and configured to produce a peroxide to oxidize contaminants in air flowing through the airflow passage, the air purification element including:
• a peroxide-generating structure configured to produce the peroxide from water vapor and oxygen in the airflow passage, the peroxide-generating structure including a first electrode separated from a second electrode by an ionically conductive matrix and being configured to produce the peroxide upon application of a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• a matrix containing a peroxide-activating catalyst configured to activate the peroxide produced, the matrix containing the peroxide-activating catalyst being positioned to allow the contaminants to contact peroxide activated by the peroxide-activating catalyst.

A method of oxidizing contaminants in air flowing through an airflow passage via an air purification element, the method comprising:

• directing a flow of air through the air purification element;
• energizing a peroxide-generating structure of the air purification element to produce a peroxide from water vapor and oxygen in the airflow passage;
• activating, via a peroxide-activating catalyst, at least some of the peroxide produced;
• and
• contacting the air flowing through the airflow passage with the activated peroxide to oxidize the contaminants.