In this work, lead (Ⅱ)-containing activated carbon (Pb@C) is prepared as the additive of negative active
mass (NAM), aiming to enhance the electrochemical characteristics of the lead-acid battery. The characters of the Pb@C materials and their electrochemical properties are characterized by XRD, SEM, backscattering electron image (BESI) and electrochemical methods. The lead (Ⅱ) ions disperse well in the
carbon bulk of the obtained Pb@C materials as observed, and these materials exhibit remarkable higher
specific capacitance and higher hydrogen evolution over-potential compared with original carbons.
Many 2 V lead-acid batteries are assembled manually in our lab, and then the batteries are disassembled
after formation and high-rate-partial-state-of-charge (HRPSoC) cycling. Results manifest that the Pb@C
additives exhibit high affinity to lead and act as a porous-skeleton in the formation process as well as
under HRPSoC cycling conditions, leading to the small andfine formation of PbSO4 particles and
accordingly higher active material utilization rate more than 50%, better cycling performance and
charging acceptance. Besides, excellent cycle performances of these batteries have great relationship
with the dazzling hydrogen evolution performance of Pb@C materials. A possible working mechanism is
also proposed based on the testing data in this pape