This study investigated the effects of Na 2 SO4 additive in the positive electrode on the performance of sealed lead-acid cells. The additive Na 2 SO4 in the cured plates can reduce the 4BS crystal size, which produces a smaller a-PbO 2 and b-PbO 2 crystal size in the formed plates, which will have a larger surface area. The plate’s chemical composition is independent of the amount of Na 2 SO4 additive in the positive electrodes. Plate composition relies only on the cure temperature conditions. . | ELSEVIER Journal of Power Sources 90 2000 125-134 locate jpowsour Effect of Na2SO4 additive in positive electrodes on the performance of sealed lead-acid cells for electric scooter applications Jenn-Shing Chen Department of Chemical Engineering I-Shou University Ha-Hsu Hsiang Kaohsiung 84008 Taiwan Received 25 May 1999 accepted 17 June 1999 Abstract This study investigated the effects of Na2SO4 additive in the positive electrode on the performance of sealed lead-acid cells. The additive Na2SO4 in the cured plates can reduce the 4BS crystal size which produces a smaller a-PbO2 and b-PbO2 crystal size in the formed plates which will have a larger surface area. The plate s chemical composition is independent of the amount of Na2SO4 additive in the positive electrodes. Plate composition relies only on the cure temperature conditions. Increasing amounts of Na2SO4 additive to the positive electrode will not decrease the crystal size appreciably. The optimal amount of Na2SO4 additive is M which produces the smallest crystal size and largest specific surface area. Cells with Na2SO4 additive in the positive plates have a smaller surface area causing a higher initial capacity and average capacity per cycle for both testing methods the standard cycle testing and the electric scooter ES driving pattern cycle testing. The initial capacity and average capacity can be increased up to 4 in the standard cycle testing and up to 8 in the ES driving pattern cycle testing. 2000 Elsevier Science . All rights reserved. Keywords Sealed lead-acid cell Electric scooters Positive plates Additives Curing temperature 1. Introduction Electric scooters ESs have recently come into commercial use. However the lower traveling range and higher initial cost give ESs lower performance than internal combustion IC scooters which are not attractive to consumers. Increasing the storage capacity and power output of ES batteries will increase an ES s range. Generally the higher
