Metal oxides in lead-acid batteries

Abstract

Disclosed is a lead acid battery having a negative electrode plate and a positive electrode plate, each plate formed of a lead-antimony grid coated with an active material. A separator is disposed between the first and second electrode plate faces and an electrolyte solution immersing the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate the separator. At least one of the lead-antimony electrode grids, the separator or the electrolyte solution contains TiO 2 , an amount sufficient to suppress the migration of antimony from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lead acid battery comprising:
 a housing containing   a negative electrode plate for a lead acid battery having a first face and   a positive electrode plate for a lead acid battery having a second face opposing the first face, where the electrode plates are comprised of a lead-antimony grid coated with an active material;   a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plate faces and   an electrolyte solution immersing the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate the separator, where at least one of the lead-antimony electrode grids, the separator or the electrolyte solution containing TiO 2  in an amount sufficient to suppress the migration of antimony from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate.   
     
     
         2 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the lead acid battery is a flooded lead acid battery. 
     
     
         3 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the TiO 2  is Rutile TiO 2  or AnataseTiO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.1 to about 20 g/ml. 
     
     
         5 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.25 to about 15 g/ml 
     
     
         6 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.5 to about 10 g/ml. 
     
     
         7 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the electrolyte is H 2 SO 4 . 
     
     
         8 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein at least one face of an electrode grid has a TiO 2  coating in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate. 
     
     
         9 . The lead acid battery of  claim 8  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 1 μm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The lead acid battery of  claim 8  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 10 μm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The lead acid battery of  claim 8  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 50 μm to about 500 μm. 
     
     
         12 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  further comprising a porous membrane coated on the face of at least one electrode plate, wherein TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate. 
     
     
         13 . The lead acid battery of  claim 12  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 1 to about 90 wt. %. 
     
     
         14 . The lead acid battery of  claim 12  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 10 to about 90 wt. %. 
     
     
         15 . The lead acid battery of  claim 12  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 25 to about 75 wt. %. 
     
     
         16 . The lead acid battery of  claim 1  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate. 
     
     
         17 . The lead acid battery of  claim 16  wherein the separator comprises a polymeric separator and the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1% to about 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         18 . The lead acid battery of  claim 17  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 5% to about 35%. 
     
     
         19 . The lead acid battery of  claim 17  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 5 wt. %% to about 25 wt. %. 
     
     
         20 . The lead acid battery of  claim 17  wherein the separator further comprises natural rubber, RSS 1 or CV 60 rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The lead acid battery of  claim 16  wherein the separator comprises a natural rubber separator and the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 40% wt. %. 
     
     
         22 . The lead acid battery of  claim 21  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 20 wt. %. 
     
     
         23 . The lead acid battery of  claim 21  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 10 wt. %. 
     
     
         24 . An electrolyte solution for a lead acid battery, the lead acid battery having a housing containing
 a negative electrode plate,   a positive electrode plate, the electrode plates comprised of a lead-antimony grid coated with an active material;   a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plate faces and   an electrolyte solution immersing the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate the separator, the electrode solution comprising:   an electrolyte and   TiO 2  in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate.   
     
     
         25 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 24  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.1 to about 20 g/ml. 
     
     
         26 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 24  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.25 to about 15 g/ml. 
     
     
         27 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 24  wherein the concentration of TiO 2  in the electrolyte solution is from about 0.5 to about 10 g/ml. 
     
     
         28 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 24  wherein the electrolyte is H 2 SO 4 . 
     
     
         29 . An electrode plate for a lead acid battery, the lead acid battery having a housing containing
 a negative electrode plate,   a positive electrode plate, the electrode plates comprised of a lead-antimony grid coated with an active material;   a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plate faces and   an electrolyte solution immersing the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate the separator, at least one face of an electrode grid comprising a TiO 2  coating in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate.   
     
     
         30 . The electrode plate of  claim 29  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 1 μm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The electrode plate of  claim 29  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 10 μm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The electrode plate of  claim 29  wherein the TiO 2  coating has a thickness of from about 50 μm to about 500. 
     
     
         33 . The electrode plate of  claim 29  further comprising a porous membrane coated on the face of at least one electrode plate, wherein TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate. 
     
     
         34 . The electrode plate of  claim 33  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 1 to about 90 wt. %. 
     
     
         35 . The electrode plate of  claim 34  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 10 to about 90 wt. %. 
     
     
         36 . The electrode plate of  claim 34  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the porous membrane in an amount from about 25 to about 75 wt. %. 
     
     
         37 . A separator for a lead acid battery, the lead acid battery having a housing containing
 a negative electrode plate,   a positive electrode plate, the electrode plates are comprised of a lead-antimony grid coated with an active material;   a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plate faces and   an electrolyte solution immersing the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate the separator, the separator incorporating TiO 2  in an amount sufficient to suppress migration from the positive electrode plate to the negative electrode plate.   
     
     
         38 . The separator of  claim 37  wherein the separator comprises a polymeric separator and the TiO2 is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1% to about 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         39 . The separator of  claim 38  wherein the TiO2 is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 5% to about 35%. 
     
     
         40 . The separator of  claim 38  wherein the TiO2 is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. %. 
     
     
         41 . The separator of  claim 38  wherein the separator further comprises natural rubber, RSS 1 or CV 60 rubber. 
     
     
         42 . The separator of  claim 37  wherein the separator comprises a natural rubber separator and the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 40% wt. %. 
     
     
         43 . The separator battery of  claim 42  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 20 wt. %. 
     
     
         44 . The lead acid battery of  claim 42  wherein the TiO 2  is incorporated into the separator in an amount from about 1 to about 10 wt. %.