A Novel Gel Electrolyte For Valve-Regulated Lead Acid Battery

Abstract

A novel gel electrolyte system used in lead-acid batteries was investigated in this work. The gel systems were prepared by addition of different amount of Al2O3, TiO2 and B2O3 into the gelled system consisting of 6 wt% fumed silica and 30 wt% sulfuric acid solution for the first time. The anodic peak currents and peak redox capacities of the gel electrolytes were characterized by cyclic voltammetric method. When B2O3 and Al2O3 were used as additives in fumed silica based gel electrolyte system, the anodic peak currents and peak redox capacities decreased. However, the investigated parameters in cyclic voltammetry (anodic peak current and capacities) increased by the adding of 3.0 wt% of TiO2 in the fumed silica based gel system. The solution and charge transfer resistances of the gel electrolytes were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. While the solution resistances were lower in gel systems having different amount additives than pure fumed silica based gel, the charge transfer resistance was the lowest in gel electrolytes consisting fumed silica and fumed silica-TiO2. The morphological differences of gelled systems were elucidated by scanning electron microscopic and optic microscopic analysis. The battery performances were studied by obtaining discharge curves of prepared gel electrolytes. The performance of gelled systems were higher than that of non-gelled electrolyte at room temperature. The mixture of fumed silica-TiO2 was suggested an alternative gel formulation for gel valve-regulated lead acid batteries. TiO can be a useful additive for gel-VRLA batteries.

A novel gel electrolyte system used in lead-acid batteries was investigated in this work. The gel systems were prepared by addition of different amount of Al2O3, TiO2 and B2O3 into the gelled system consisting of 6 wt% fumed silica and 30 wt% sulfuric acid solution for the first time. The anodic peak currents and peak redox capacities of the gel electrolytes were characterized by cyclic voltammetric method. When B2O3 and Al2O3 were used as additives in fumed silica based gel electrolyte system, the anodic peak currents and peak redox capacities decreased. However, the investigated parameters in cyclic voltammetry (anodic peak current and capacities) increased by the adding of 3.0 wt% of TiO2 in the fumed silica based gel system. The solution and charge transfer resistances of the gel electrolytes were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. While the solution resistances were lower in gel systems having different amount additives than pure fumed silica based gel, the charge transfer resistance was the lowest in gel electrolytes consisting fumed silica and fumed silica-TiO2. The morphological differences of gelled systems were elucidated by scanning electron microscopic and optic microscopic analysis. The battery performances were studied by obtaining discharge curves of prepared gel electrolytes. The performance of gelled systems were higher than that of non-gelled electrolyte at room temperature. The mixture of fumed silica-TiO2 was suggested an alternative gel formulation for gel valve-regulated lead acid batteries. TiO can be a useful additive for gel-VRLA batteries.