Open AccessElectrodeposition of Pb and PbO2 on Graphite Felt in Membraneless Flow-Through Reactor: A Method to Prepare Lightweight Electrode Grids for Lead-Acid Batteries
Author(s) -
Arminas Ilginis,
Nerita Žmuidzinavičienė,
Egidijus Griškonis
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 111
ISSN - 1996-1944
DOI - 10.3390/ma14206122
Subject(s) - graphite , materials science , electrode , lead–acid battery , electrolyte , sulfuric acid , inert , composite number , chemical engineering , composite material , inorganic chemistry , battery (electricity) , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
One of the possible ways of mitigating the primary lead-acid battery downside-mass- is to replace the heavy lead grids that can add up to half of the total electrode's mass. The grids can be exchanged for a lightweight, chemically inert, and conductive material such as graphite felt. To reduce carbon surface area, Pb/PbO 2 can be electrochemically deposited on graphite felt. A flow-through reactor was applied to enhance penetration of adequate coverage of graphite felt fibers. Three types of electrolytes (acetate, nitrate, and methanesulfonate) and two additives (ligninsulfonate and Triton X-100) were tested. The prepared composite electrodes showed greater mechanical strength, up to 5 times lower electrical resistivity, and acted as Pb and PbO 2 electrodes in sulfuric acid electrolytes.