Positive Active Material Cathode Paste

The positive active material contains lead oxide and other additives such as red lead (Pb304), which is more conductive than lead oxide. Red lead is produced by further roasting lead oxide in an airflow chamber until the desired oxidation stage is achieved. Generally, red lead will reduce the free lead contained and increase the 

As mentioned, red lead (Pb304) is more conductive than lead oxide (PbO), which facilitates the electrochemical formation of lead dioxide (Pb02). 

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The active material of the cathode (6) is pressed into the inner surface of a steel can (2). A separator (3) of unwoven plastic fabric and/or cellophane is inserted into the can, which contains the electrolyte and prevents internal shortings. A petal-shaped brass current collector is in the central part of the cell. The space between the separator and the current collector is filled with the anode paste (7), which consists of the alkaline solution gelled with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and zinc powder. An additional amount of pure electrolyte (9) is inside the current collector. To provide exchangeability with conventional cylindrical cells, the upper side of the cell has a bulge (1) that serves as the positive terminal. The bottom (13) serves as the negative terminal. To improve internal contact a pressure spring (12) is often used. The can is inserted into a metal jacket (4) with the insulator (5). 

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