The charging-discharging behavior of the lead-acid cell with electrodes based on carbon matrix

Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) plated electrochemically with a thin layer of lead was investigated as a carrier and current collector material for the positive and negative plates for lead-acid batteries. Flooded 2 V single lead-acid cells, with capacities up to 46 Ah, containing two positive and two negative plates were assembled and subjected to charge/discharge cycling tests, self-discharge characterization and Peukert’s dependences determination. They could retain 72% of discharge capacity after 12 months of storage in room temperature and showed similar performance to a standard cell during cycle life test. A 2-V cell using a carbon material with higher conductivity than RVC was also constructed. It showed improved performance under higher current discharges, comparable to standard lead-acid batteries. Additional cycling tests were performed on a complete 12-V RVC-based battery. It completed almost three times the number of cycles of lead-acid batteries with standard current collectors. Obtained results are promising and show that application of a conducting porous carbon as a carrier and current-collector will significantly increase the specific capacity of the lead-acid battery and self-discharge characterization and cycling charging–discharging battery durability.