Lead-acid battery formulations containing discrete carbon nanotubes

1. A composition for lead-acid battery construction comprising:

a plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes, not entangled as a mass, the nanotubes having an aspect ratio of about 10 to about 500;

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes are open ended; and

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes have an oxidation level of from about 1 weight percent to about 15 weight percent.

2. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one surfactant or dispersing aid.

3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one surfactant or dispersing aid, wherein the surfactant or dispersing aid contains a sulfate moiety.

4. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a sulfonated polymer selected from the group consisting of: ligno-sulfonate, sulfonated polystyrene, and combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising conducting polymers selected from the group consisting of: polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyvinylpyrollidone, polyacetylene polythiophene, polyphenylene sulfide, and blends, copolymers, and derivatives thereof.

6. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising water and wherein the nanotubes are dispersed in the water to form an expander material or battery paste.

7. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a non-fiber carbon moiety.

8. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an organic material;

an inorganic salt; and a non-fiber carbon moiety.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein when said composition is employed as a battery paste the battery paste exhibits (1) at least 10% improved adhesion to carbon/lead electrodes, lead electrodes, or carbon electrodes, than pastes without carbon nanotubes; or (2) a 10% or greater increase in ion transport at any temperature for a given electrolyte concentration compared to a battery without carbon nanotubes at the same electrolyte concentration and temperature; or (3) both (1) and (2).

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein when said composition is employed as a battery paste the battery paste exhibits at least 10% improved adhesion to carbon/lead electrodes, lead electrodes, or carbon electrodes, than pastes without carbon nanotubes.

11. The composition of claim 9 wherein when said composition is employed as a battery paste the battery paste exhibits a 10% or greater increase in ion transport at any temperature for a given electrolyte concentration compared to a battery without carbon nanotubes at the same electrolyte concentration and temperature.

12. The composition of claim 8 wherein when said composition is employed as a battery paste the battery paste exhibits (1) at least 10% improved adhesion to carbon/lead electrodes, lead electrodes, or carbon electrodes, than pastes without carbon nanotubes; and (2) a 10% or greater increase in ion transport at any temperature for a given electrolyte concentration compared to a battery without carbon nanotubes at the same electrolyte concentration and temperature.

13. The composition of claim 8 wherein the inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, lead sulfate, calcium sulfate and tin oxide.

14. The composition of claim 7 wherein the non-fiber carbon moiety is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and graphene.

15. The composition of claim 8 wherein the non-fiber carbon moiety is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and graphene.

16. A composition for lead-acid battery construction comprising:

a plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes, not entangled as a mass, the nanotubes having an aspect ratio of about 10 to about 500;

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes are open ended;

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes have an oxidation level of from about 1 weight percent to about 15 weight percent; and

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes are coated with a conductive polymer.

17. The composition of claim 16 wherein the conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyvinylpyrollidone, polyacetylene polythiophene, polyphenylene sulfide, and blends, copolymers, and derivatives thereof.

18. The composition of claim 16 , further comprising an organic material; an inorganic salt; and a non-fiber carbon moiety.

19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, lead sulfate, calcium sulfate and tin oxide.

20. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the non-fiber carbon moiety is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and graphene.

21. A composition for lead-acid battery construction comprising:

(a) a plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes, not entangled as a mass, the nanotubes having an aspect ratio of about 10 to about 500;

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes are open ended;

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes have an oxidation level of from about 1 weight percent to about 15 weight percent; and

wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes are coated with a conductive polymer;

(b) an inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, lead sulfate, calcium sulfate and tin oxide; and

(c) a non-fiber carbon moiety is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and graphene.

22. The composition of claim 21 further comprising an organic material.