Improving the performance of lead acid batteries using nano-technology

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.