Preparation and electrochemical properties of pitch-based carbon foam as current collectors for lead acid batteries

Pitch-based carbon foam with large pore size in the cell walls was prepared and evaluated as possible current collectors of lead acid batteries. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments were performed on the material to evaluate its electrochemical properties. The carbon foam is electrochemically stable in the voltage range where the negative electrodes of lead acid batteries operate, while oxygen evolution at the foam occurs below the voltage related to the oxidation of PbSO4 to PbO2. Initial charge–discharge characterization of the carbon foam coated with lead oxide pastes shows that the carbon foam is suitable for use as negative current collectors of lead acid batteries, but cannot be used as positive current collectors due to the oxygen evolution. To use the carbon foam as positive current collectors, further study is necessary to increase the overpotential for the oxygen evolution.