Dimensionally stable PbO2 electrodes for lead acid batteries

Cyclic voltammetry experiments performed with PbO2 in 4.7 M sulphuric acid were used for characterizing the performance of different electrode substrates onto which PbO2 was electrodeposited. This study leads to the proposition of modified light metal substrates for the preparation of PbO2-dimensionally stable electrodes to be used in bipolar lead acid batteries. Encouraging results were obtained by electrodeposition of Pt on Ti/TiO2 leading to Metal 1 / Oxide / Metal 2 structures, which exhibit rapid electron transfer like platinum electrodes, but their cost is too high. At last, the best results were obtained by the preparation of a doped mixed oxide on titanium (Ti/TiO2-SnO2-Sb2O3 electrodes), according to a procedure derived from the usual preparation of DSAs for electrolytic cells. It is a convenient method for preparing substrates that can withstand corrosion and for which the PbO2/PbSO4 transformation is rapid.