Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2-Acetylene Black Composites for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Inhibition of Lead-Acid Batteries

Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2-acetylene black (BLC/AB) composite is successfully prepared by a simple and economical sonochemical method and employed as a negative additive for lead-acid batteries (LABs). The electrochemical measurements show that the obtained BLC/AB electrodes have a higher hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) overpotential compared to AB electrode. BLC/AB-2 and BLC/AB-4 battery deliver the excellent rate performance at 1C rate. What's more, acetylene black as nucleation centers of Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2 may considerably alleviate irreversible sulfation phenomenon of negative plate, thus enhancing the conductivity and extending the cycle life. Interestingly, the cycle life (1172) of BLC/AB-2 battery is 1.44 times that of the same amount of AB battery (814) at 1C rate. Therefore, the BLC/AB composite is a promising negative additive of LABs.