Electrochemical properties of lead oxide films obtained by spray pyrolysisas negative electrodes for lithium secondary batteries

Lead(II) oxides in bulk and thin film form were assessed as electrodes for lithium rechargeable batteries. Films were prepared by spray pyrolysis of a queous solutions of Pb(CH3-COO)(2). 2H(2)O and deposited onto lead substrat es at 175 degreesC. Films heated at 250 degreesC were found to consist of w ell-crystallized tetragonal PbO and evolve to the orthorhombic polymorph wi th prolonged heating. Cycling of the cells at a current density of 0.25 mA/ cm(2) over the range 1.0-0.0 V led to the formation of various LiyPb alloys . Cells made from bulk oxides, whether tetragonal or orthorhombic, were fou nd to exhibit poor performance (their capacity rapidly faded with cycling). By contrast, PbO him electrodes exhibited reversible capacity above 500 mA h/g beyond 40 cycles. The lead substrate must thus appreciably influence t he electrochemical properties of the cell by facilitating adhesion of LiyPb microcrystals to its surface, thereby favoring alloying/de-alloying proces ses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.