Lead Plated Titanium Grids for Lead Acid Batteries

摘要

The feasibility of developing lightweight and high mechanical strength titanium grids with protective layers for the next generation of high energy and power density lead-acid batteries has been demonstrated in this research. A novel electroplating method to coat a layer of well bonded lead onto the surface of Ti grids has been developed. To increase corrosion resistance of the plated Ti grids in a H_2SO_4 electrolyte at elevated temperatures, 49°C, an interfacial layer of TiN_x between the titanium and Pb coating was developed. The resultant titanium grid coated with TiNi_x/Pb is promising for both cathode and anode substrates used in lead acid batteries at elevated temperatures. The substitution of a lead grid with this coated titanium grid will reduce 18%-22% of the weight of a lead-acid battery and increase its mechanic strength 20-40 times.