Effects of lead-foam grids on performance of VRLA battery

Lead-foam grids have been prepared by electrodepositing lead on a copper-foam substrate that has good conductibility and a symmetrically three-dimensional reticulated structure. VRLA batteries with lead foam as the negative electrode current collector material have been fabricated; the effects of the lead foam on the specific capacity, the active material utilization efficiency and the negative active material transformation process of the VRLA batteries have been studied. The results show that a lead-foam grid has a bigger specific surface area than a cast grid. The charge voltage of a VRLA battery with a lead-foam negative electrode is significantly lower than that of a VRLA battery with a cast grid electrode during a charge process. The discharge capacity, the mass specific capacity, and the active material utilization efficiency of a VRLA battery with a lead-foam electrode can be greatly improved at different states of discharge. The EIS research revealed that a lead-foam negative electrode has higher electrochemical reactivity. Observed by means of a scanning electron microscope, it was found that the spongy Pb crystals at a lead-foam grid negative electrode are smaller than that of a cast grid negative electrode at a state of charge; while the PbSO₄ crystals are smaller than that of a cast grid negative electrode at a state of discharge.