A study conducted at Bar-Ilan University in Israel showed that the addition of TUBALL single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) into lead acid batteries can increase the batteries’ cycle life fourfold and double capacity at high rates. This groundbreaking research result is set to significantly expand the range of applications for lead acid batteries.

Lead acid batteries comprise more than 60% of the total global battery market. They are extensively used in cars, trucks and buses, micro-hybrids, stationary power back-up and UPS systems, heavy equipment and other fields. The key advantages of lead acid batteries are consistent performance, excellent low temperature performance and a strong safety record. However, issues with existing lead acid batteries include a poor charge acceptance as well as a limited cycle life at high depth of discharge, i.e. when they are fully charged and discharged.

The May issue of the Journal of The Electrochemical Society features a study published by Bar-Ilan University, one of the most prominent research institutes in the energy field and Professor Doron Aurbach, which shows the effects of adding 0.01% SWCNT into lead acid battery electrodes. For the purposes of this study, the research team usedTUBALL BATT, a water-based dispersion of high quality SWCNT for energy applications, manufactured by OCSiAl, the global single wall carbon nanotubes manufacturer. The dispersion was added into electrode pastes during standard battery manufacturing process.

The use of TUBALL as opposed to regular electrodes or electrodes containing multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) showed a significant increase in capacity of 30%. The cells also demonstrated double the capacity at high discharge rates. The most significant results of the study were drastically improved charge acceptance and cycle life of the new cells. TUBALL increases the lifetime of lead acid batteries by 4.5 timesin comparison with standard commonly used electrodes. The effect was attributed to a drastic decrease in sulfation, as well as high conductivity and mechanical reinforcement of electrodes structure with the added nanotubes.

These results will enable lead acid batteries to be used in applications where deep discharge and faster charge and discharge rates are common, increasing their competitiveness against other battery chemistries. TUBALL BATT water-based SWCNT dispersions are available commercially worldwide from OCSiAl’s manufacturing partners.

OCSiAl will be showcasing these and other new generation products as well as promoting the benefits of using SWCNT in energy applications at CIBF 2016 which takes place in Shenzhen, China between May 24 to 26. Stand No. 6T26.