Botryoidal Pb/PbO@C nanocomposite derived from eggplant biomass as negative electrode additives for long-cyclability lead-acid batteries

To overcome the irreversible sulfation and improve the lifespan of lead-acid batteries (LABs), we propose a novel Pb/PbO@C nanocomposite with botryoidal architecture derived from eggplant biomass as effective additives to the negative plates. Such unique structure, sharing a three-dimensional conductive carbon network with macropores , effectively facilitates electron transport and boosts ion diffusion as well as suppresses the growth of PbSO 4 during charge-discharge process. The hierarchical carbon framework is also responsible for dispersing active material Pb to limit the particle aggregation. As a result, the LAB equipped with 2.0 wt% Pb/PbO@C-700 shows an excellent rate capability and outstanding high-rate partial state of charge (HRPSoC) cycling performance of 8.2 times compared to that of the LAB without additive. Pb/PbO@C additive is expected to be a promising candidate for commercial application in LABs.