Application of WC Electrodes in Stationary Batteries

Abstract

The main reactions involved in thie clharge process of positive and negative lead-acid battery plates are associated with electrochemical decomposition of water. TIo avoid fallinig downI of the electrolyte level, the battery must be regularly topped up withi water, i.e. it requir-es miaintenance In priniciple, two methlods hiave beeni developed to reduce water loss durinig battery operation. Thle first inivolves inicreasing the overvoltage of hiydrogein and oxygen evolution by the use of special alloys, and limiliting the clharge voltage to below the voltage of water decompositioni. The second approach to imasiilnteniance-lfr-ee operation is to enicoLur-age tle recombiniationi of the hydrogen anti oxygeni released in the ceML. This can be achieved tlhrough: (a) an oxygen cycle, whereby the oxygeni released on the positive plate is reduced on the negative one; (b) recombinatiotn of the released gases to water on the catalytic plug; (c) oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation on the partially-inimiersed catalytic electrodes. It was established in the 1970's [1,21 that tunigsten carbide (WC) hiad good catalytic activity towards the 1-12 reaction in1H2SO4 electrolyte. Trhe aims of the present study are to inivestigate the catalytic activity of WC towai-ds hydrogen and oxygen released during lead-acid lbaittery operation, and to develop a lead-acid battery with partially immnersed WC clectrodes.