Using multi-component carbon composite as current collector in ultra-battery

Abstract

This study introduces a multi-component composite as a substitute for lead grids in ultra-battery structures. The presented composite decreases the weight and simultaneously extends the cycle life of the traditional lead-acid battery. Overall, UBZCP (the sample containing metal oxides and polyaniline), as the best sample, increases the cyclic stability by 3.3 and 1.4 times under high rate partial state of charge (HRPSoC) mode, compared to Native and UB450 samples. Metal oxides predominantly enhance the electrical conductivity of carbon-based composites due to catalytic effects in the reduction of graphene oxide during heat treatment. Poly aniline shows considerably positive effect of electrochemical performance due to the high pseudo-capacitive properties, high interaction of lead ions and the nitrogen in the polymer chains and accordingly hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) inhibition. The synergistic effect of polyaniline and metal oxides makes the best performance in the UBZCP sample achieve. Also, the UBZCP sample represented an enhancement of about 1.21 and 1.39 times in battery life and specific capacity under deep discharge mode compared to the Native sample. As a result, the introduced multi-component composite making a 3D conductive network, facilitates Pb/PbSO₄ reaction reversibility, and reduces the lead sulfate crystal size.