Lead-tin -graphene composite with excellent corrosion-electrochemical and mechanical properties

Lead-tin-graphene composites were synthesized in semi-industrial scale for the first time. The hardness of lead-tin-graphene composites with concentrations up to 1% Sn are significantly improved with the addition of carbon as graphene up to 0.1%. Lead-tin-graphene composite was studied in terms of positive grid of lead-acid batteries operating. After electrochemical tests, it is found that the advantages of lead-tin-graphene composite are as follows: (i) The electrical conductivity is significantly higher than that of lead-calcium-tin-aluminum alloy and rare earth alloy; (ii) the corrosion interface shows uniform corrosion, not grain boundary corrosion, which is beneficial to the plate corrosion resistance of the grid;(iii) the rate of electrochemical corrosion of Pb-Sn-graphene composite is 4 times less than that of pure lead; (iv) There is no PbO with poor conductivity in the corrosion product, which can avoid the early capacity loss. By applying lead-tin-graphene alloy grid to lead-acid batteries and long-life energy storage batteries for electric mopeds, the specific energy and cycle life can be improved.