Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Percolation Network Enhanced the Performance of Negative Electrode for Lead-Acid Battery

Abstract

The discharge performance of lead-acid battery is improved by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an alternate conductive additive in Negative Active Mass (NAM). We report that MWCNTs added to the negative electrode, exhibits high capacity, excellent cycling performances at 10-h rate, high rate partial state of charge (HRPSoC) cycling and various rates of discharge. It significantly reduces the irreversible lead sulfate on the NAM, increases the active material utilization and improves the electrode performance. The improvement of capacity and cyclic performance of the cell is attributed to the nanoscale dimension of the MWCNTs as additive. Subsequent characterization using high resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were carried out to understand the influence of MWCNTs on the negative electrode of lead-acid battery.

Lead acid battery performance and cycle life increased through addition of discrete carbon nanotubes to both electrodes

“…A further drawback to the use of carbon as a NAM additive is the potential to introduce gas-evolving impurities into the electrode. If the carbon additive is particularly high in iron residuals remaining from its production, for example, gas evolution and water loss will increase, leading to premature battery failure [9]. An abundance of literature studies discuss carbon allotropes, or mixtures thereof, in relation to the formation improvements [10] and charge acceptance boosts [6] they produce, but the detrimental effects of these carbon additives, namely paste property changes and gas evolution increases, remain consistent.…”

One-Pot Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers from CO2

“…The intensity ratio between D band and G band (I D /I G ) is an important parameter to evaluate the graphitization and is 0.70 in our case, which is consistent with commercial hollow carbon nanofiber samples. 30 All of the above information indicates the formation of good CNFs.…”

Understanding Function and Performance of Carbon Additives in Lead-Acid Batteries

“…Pore structure resilience is strongly correlated to cycle life. 22 Small diameter pores hinder the formation of large PbSO 4 crystallites, resulting in a distribution of small PbSO 4 crystals that are more easily dissolved/reduced during charging. Additionally, pore diameters below 1.5 μm can act as a semi-permeable membrane, restricting mass transport of SO 4 2− and HSO 4 − into the pore.…”

“…6,7,[9][10][11]13,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Researchers have hypothesized that carbon contributes in one or more different aspects of battery performance. Chemical reactivity and surface area are important if the material is electrochemically active.…”