Lead-Acid and Lead-Carbon Battery Electrochemistry, Materials, and Recycling
This research community focuses on the electrochemical mechanisms, electrode materials, and recycling processes for lead-acid and lead-carbon batteries, which are widely used for energy storage and starting applications.
The work centers on improving battery performance through the development of carbon additives, such as porous carbon and graphene oxide, for negative electrodes, and optimizing electrolyte additives to enhance ionic conductivity and cycle life. A significant portion of the research addresses the recovery of lead from spent batteries, exploring hydrometallurgical extraction, smelting, and waste management strategies to create sustainable closed-loop systems. The community also investigates the integration of carbon materials to create hybrid lead-carbon systems that offer longer lifespans and better performance for stationary energy storage.
The largest share of the community's output is found in lead research, accounting for 1.3% of all lead research tracked, with 1,302 papers in this group. Antimony and tin also appear in the footprint, with 150 and 79 papers respectively, reflecting their role as alloying elements in battery grids and pastes.
The community comprises 2,275 papers, publishing primarily in the Journal of Power Sources, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, and Journal of Energy Storage.
Recent work continues to explore advanced carbon composites for ultra-long-life anodes, sustainable recycling methods for spent batteries, and numerical modeling of electrolyte behavior, with specific attention to surface passivation of carbon coatings and the upcycling of plastics into high-performance battery additives.