Abstract:
The project studies the use of nano-technology to
improve the performance of lead acid batteries by synthesizing
the cathode (positive electrode) of the lead acid battery using
nanoparticles. A simulation was done using COMSOL
Multiphysics software to predict the expected performance
improvement of nano-structured electrodes when compared
with the conventional electrodes. Nano-structured PbO2 was
synthesized using hydrolysis at the room temperature and
conventional PbO2 was obtained by the regular manufacturing
process in battery industry. Nano-structured PbO2 was
incorporated into the cathode through three different ways and
the obtained three cathodes were compared separately with the
conventional cathode using Charge/Discharge Tests, SEM
Analysis and Particle Size Distribution Analysis. After porosity
and morphology parameters were introduced to the
conventional lead acid battery positive electrode (PbO2) in
COMSOL, improved performances of state-of-charge (SOC)
and voltage characteristics were obtained for discharging
simulations. The results of SEM analysis and Particle Size
Distribution Analysis performed on nano-structured electrodes,
provided a considerable improvement. The discharging and
charging tests performed using single lead acid cell provided
almost same results to those were obtained using COMSOL
simulations.
