Bipolar Lead Acid Batteries Using Polymer/carbon Composite Bipolar

WORKERS AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, BIPOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, HAVE DEVELOPED A MATERIAL FOR USE AS A BIPOLAR ELECTRODE SUPPORT WHICH WILL RESULT IN MORE LIGHTWEIGHT, LONGER LIFE BATTERIES. THE ELECTRODE SUPPORT IS A COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPOSED OF LOW SURFACE AREA CARBON/POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIAL WHICH HAS LOW ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE, CHEMICALLY STABLE, AND HAS LOW ACTIVITY FOR OXYGEN EVOLUTION, AN UNDESIRABLE SIDE REACTION IN LEAD ACID BATTERIES. IT IS PROPOSED TO APPLY THIS MATERIAL AS A BIPOLAR ELECTRODE SUPPORT. THE PROJECTED SPECIFIC POWER OF BATTERIES WHICH USE THIS MATERIAL, AND USING THE BATTERY DESIGN PREVIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED, IS OVER 400 kW/kg FOR DISCHARGES OF 1 - 3 ms. THE SPECIFIC POWER FOR LONGER DISCHARGES, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT LOWER, ARE STILL MANY TIMES THAT OF OTHER AVAILABLE BATTERIES. THIS SUPPORT MATERIAL SHOULD ALSO BE USEFUL IN OTHER BATTERY SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED SPECIFIC POWER, SPECIFIC ENERGY, AND SHELF LIFE.