Electrodeposited lead composition, methods of production, and uses
The inventive subject matter is directed to continuous electrochemical production of highly pure micro- or nanostructured lead that at least partially encloses the electroprocessing solvent and molecular hydrogen and optional guest compounds to form a mixed matrix. Such compositions are particularly suitable for cold forming of various structures and/or for alloy and composite material production.
1. A method of forming a lead structure, comprising:
providing a lead composite comprising solid metallic lead having a purity of at least 98 mol %, molecular hydrogen, and a solvent, wherein the solid metallic lead, the hydrogen, and the solvent form a micro- or nanoporous mixed matrix comprising less than 0.10 weight % lead oxides;
introducing the lead composite into a structured mold;
cold-forming the lead structure in the mold at a temperature below a melting temperature of lead; and
removing at least some of the solvent and the molecular hydrogen from the lead composite during or before the cold-forming of the lead structure in the mold;
wherein the lead composite further comprises a guest compound, wherein the guest compound is a metal in elemental form or a carbon allotrope, or wherein the guest compound is selected from the group consisting of metallic copper, metallic nickel, metallic magnesium, metallic tin, metallic calcium, a graphene, and a fullerene.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent in the lead composite has a pH of equal or less than pH 5.0.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the micro- or nanoporous mixed matrix has a density of less than 8 g/cm 3 .
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the guest compound is a metal in elemental form or a carbon allotrope.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the lead composite has a formula of Pb l (H 2 ) m (MSA) n (Q) p , wherein MSA is methane sulfonic acid, and wherein Q is a metal in elemental form or a carbon allotrope, and wherein l, m, n, and p denote molar fractions, wherein l and n are independently between 0.1 and 1, m is between 0.05 and 0.0005, and p is between 0.001 and 0.1.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein equal to or less than 1 mol % of lead in the lead composite is oxidized.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing or forming the lead composite into the structured mold comprises a step of pressing, spraying, injection molding, printing, or die casting the lead composite.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of removing at least some of the solvent and the molecular hydrogen comprises a step of compressing the lead composite, heating the lead composite, or subjecting the lead composite to a solvent exchange.
9. A method of actively cold-forming a metallic object, comprising:
providing a lead composite comprising solid micro- or nanostructured metallic lead having a purity of at least 98 mol %, wherein an electroprocessing solvent and molecular hydrogen are disposed within the composite to form a micro- or nanoporous mixed matrix comprising less than 0.10 weight % lead oxides;
removing at least some of the electroprocessing solvent and the hydrogen from the micro- or nanoporous mixed matrix; and
fusing the solid micro- or nanostructured metallic lead in a patterned mold at a temperature below a melting temperature of lead to so produce the metallic object without appearance of grain boundaries.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the solvent in the lead composite has a pH of equal or less than pH 5.0.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the lead composite further comprises a guest compound selected from the group consisting of a metal in elemental form or a carbon allotrope.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the lead composite has a formula of Pb l (H 2 ) m (MSA) n (Q) p , wherein MSA is methane sulfonic acid, and wherein Q is a metal in elemental form or a carbon allotrope, and wherein l, m, n, and p denote molar fractions, wherein l and n are independently between 0.1 and 1, m is between 0.05 and 0.0005, and p is between 0.001 and 0.1.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein equal to or less than 1 mol % of lead in the lead composite is oxidized.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of fusing the solid micro- or nanostructured metallic lead comprises a step of pressing, spraying, injection molding, printing, or die casting the lead composite.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the mold is configured to allow forming the lead structure into a grid or current collector.