The Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI) is investigating ways to understand the charge/discharge reactions that occur in lead batteries with its members Exide Technologies and ICMA (the Aragon Materials Science Institute).
The project uses neutron diffraction to study lead batteries, with researchers finishing analysis from an initial study before conducting further neutron work.
The technology has never been used to study lead batteries before, but has been used on other technologies such as lithium-ion.
The batteries and materials were provided by Exide’s Madrid plant, with initial research conducted by a team from ICMA using its neutron facilities.
It is the first project to be launched from CBI’s new technical program, with others projects expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
Dr Alistair Davidson, director for the CBI, told BEST: “The aim of this project is to maximise the performance of lead batteries by improving technical parameters such cycle life and overall lifetime.
“Neutrons act as a powerful microscope, allowing us to observe material change occurring in lead batteries in situ and in real time– something not previously done with lead battery technology.”
Neutron diffraction is complimentary to the work that CBI is doing in the US at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory with its US members. This project, which started in 2018, uses x-ray diffraction to probe the fundamentals of lead battery technology.
In October, CBI published its technology innovation roadmap with clear goals to increase the performance of advanced lead batteries by up to five times by 2025.
Its research and innovation targets include improving dynamic charge acceptance of lead batteries in micro and mild-hybrid cars from 0.5A/Ah to 2A/Ah.
The roadmap also aims to increase partial state of charge (PSoC) at 17.5% depth of discharge in enhanced flooded batteries from 1,500 to 3,000 in the next five years.
IMAGE:Exide photo left to right: Francisco Trinidad, Exide Technologies, Alistair Davidson, CBI, Ana Lopez Duarte, Exide Technologies, Fernando de la Fuente, Exide Technologies
