Fundamental studies of lead acid cells: Part III. Studies of the oxidation of lead sulphate

The kinetics of the nucleation and growth of lead dioxide on a lead based sulphate electrode have been re-examined. The processes involved and the subsequent redox cycle are reported and discussed. After the first cycle the current-time response under potentiostatic control changes and duplex lead dioxide layer formation appears to occur. The mechanism of growth of PbO₂ on a cycled Pb/PbSO₄/PbO₂ electrode can be interpreted in terms of an instantaneous nucleation and single layer growth followed by the conversion of the remaining lead sulphate in a second more extensive layer.