Microscopic Observations of Active Mass Structures of the Negative Electrode of a Lead-Acid Battery

This doctoral dissertation deals with the study of the effect of additives on the properties of the negative electrode of a lead-acid battery. The work focuses on the investigation of the additive/base material interface for the negative electrode (so-called active mass) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A lead sheet was used as the base material, on which the given additive was applied. The effects of carbon, TiO2, glass fibers and Indulin AT were specifically investigated. The negative electrode was cycled by a potentiostat in a defined manner and the morphology of the electrode surface was continuously scanned by AFM. This created a time sequence of images on which events on the surface of the electrode during its charging/discharging were captured. These records serve to better understand the effect of additives on the resulting properties of constructed lead-acid cells, specifically on the ability to form or dissolve PbSO4 crystals, which are formed during cell discharge and are responsible for the decrease in total capacity - gradual surface sulfation