The possibility of utilization of the lead-air electrochemical system as a power source is shown. The system consists of a standard lead electrode and H2SO4 electrolyte, used in the lead acid battery and a gas diffusion electrode developed in the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems. Three catalysts have been checked for applicability with the new system-active carbon Norit NK, cobalt tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin and cobalt phthalocyanine. Cyclic voltammetry has been applied to all three catalysts and the results have been presented as galvanostatic charge-discharge curves. Polarization and Tafel dependences have been studied in a three-electrode cell. An original method for formation of the lead electrode has been elaborated. It has been established that the gas diffusion electrode is sufficiently stable in the sulphuric acid electrolyte. The energy values obtained at laboratory conditions provide a good perspective for a practical application of the lead-air system for energy storage and in the automobile industry.
<p>Thermally treated caffeine doped active carbon
(Caffeine-Norit) is studied as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction
(ORR) with application in metal-air systems and neutral aqueous electrolytes. Catalytic
activity is characterized by polarization curves and Tafel plots and the
results are compared with 5% Platinum (5% Pt-Norit) and 4% Silver (4% Ag-Norit)
catalysts. The Tafel slopes of all three catalysts are the same, the activity
of Ag-Norit being somewhat smaller then both Caffeine-Norit and Pt-Norit. The
polarization curves are also comparable, especially
in the low current density region. The increase of overpotential for the Caffeine-Norit
at current density higher than 50 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> is due to accumulation of
H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in the catalyst layer. This was demonstrated by
using a simple method for detection of peroxides in neutral electrolytes based
on indigo carmine indicator. </p>
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