260 Electrochemically Enabled Sustainability
the original paste, and would mechanically deform the plate by splitting the
material apart [6,7].
Traditionally, electrodes for lead–acid battery are fabricated by the past-
ing method. Traditional pasted plates depend upon the linear diffusion of
electrolytes into the plate pores from the separator or an inter-plate res-
ervoir for delivery of electrical energy as a part of the discharge process.
Discharge begins at the plate surfaces and progresses into the interior as
long as electrolyte diffusion rates can support the load current. In low-rate
applications, with present lead–acid technology, it is possible to achieve
utilisation levels, that is, the ratio of the amount of the active material act ...