Study of the influence of carbon on the negative lead-acid battery electrodes

Experiments were made with negative lead-acid battery electrodes doped with different concentrations of powdered carbon. It turned out that the rate of formation decreased with the rising concentration of carbon added into the active material. During accelerated cycling in the PSoC regime, the cycle life showed a maximum at a concentration of carbon near 1%, whereas at lower or higher concentrations the cycle life was profoundly lower. A marked increase of the active mass resistance with the cycle number was recorded at carbon concentrations above 2%. Orientation experiments showed that compression of the lead-acid laboratory cells caused an increase of the cycle life of the negative electrode in the studied regime.

Research highlights▶ Graphite concentrations ≥2% are detrimental for cycle life of lead electrodes. ▶ Mechanical pressure positively influences the cycle life. ▶ The rate of formation decreases with rising graphite concentration.