Study of simultaneously electrodepositing α/β-PbO2 coating materials in methanesulfonic acid and its application in novel flow battery

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, a novel Pb-0.6%Sb/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 composite electrode with quantitatively phases of α or β-PbO2 was obtained by electrodeposition in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and further investigated in novel flow battery. The physicochemical properties of lead dioxide were analyzed by anodic polarization curves, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel curves. Results showed that the selection of temperature ranges was found to cause a quantitative difference in the formation of α/β-PbO2 phases, as it made interval effects on the overpotential that was the primary control condition to affect transfer proces.The precise conditions of obtaining α or β-PbO2 phases by varying temperatures were confirmed and samples were prepared to be tested in long-period galvanostatic electrolysis. By comparing, the electrode (deposition time-α&β: 2 h&2 h) showed the best physicochemical properties, which could effectively improve the energy storage and extend the lifetime (63.6 h) compared with the traditional lead dioxide electrodes (24.5 h) in novel flow battery.