In conclusion, chemical oxygen reduction reaction is identified as the major parasitic process leading to the self-discharge of an alkaline zinc-air battery (ZAB) -one of the high energy density electrochemical storage systems having self-discharge as the main obstacle in their commercial Presence of O2 is critical in the kinetics of cathodic processes of ZAB where its limited supply can cause high overpotentials. It is shown here that the dissolved O2 can affect the Zn anode adversely and by limiting the O2 presence in anode can enhance the discharge capacity and cell cyclability (~35 hours) ~5 times than that devoid of such control (~7 hours). It is also proven that the amount of H2 produced via the inevitable HER process is enhanced with the limited supply of O2 at the anode. This signifies a higher amount of available active metallic Zn for the discharge process leading to the possibilities of ZABs having high energy density, cell cyclability.