Effects of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate as an electrolyte additive on the electrochemical behavior of lead acid battery

Abstract

Tetrabutyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate is an ion-paring reagent that has similar properties with ionic liquid. Ionic liquids belong to new branch of salts with unique properties that have ever increasing applications in electrochemical systems especially lithium-ion batteries. For the first time, the effects of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBAHS) as an electrolyte additive in battery’s electrolyte was studied on the hydrogen and oxygen evolution overpotential and anodic layer formation on lead–antimony–tin grid alloy of lead acid battery by using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry in aqueous sulfuric acid solution. The grid surface morphology after cyclic redox reaction was studied by using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that, by increasing TBAHS concentration in the electrolyte, hydrogen and oxygen overpotential were increased, and so the crystalline structure of PbSO4 layer changed. Also, cyclic voltammogram on carbon–PbO paste electrode shows that with presence of TBAHS in the electrolyte, oxidation and reduction peak current intensively increased and peak potential for oxidation and reduction of PbO were dependent on TBAHS concentration.