Advanced Technologies Reliant
on the Properties of Lead
Timothy Ellis, Travis Hesterberg and Mark Drezdzon
Abstract Over the past several years, great strides have been made in the fundamental understanding of the processes at play in a lead (Pb) battery. Using modern
analytical opportunities such as high energy X-rays available at the Advanced Photon
Source at the Argonne National Laboratory and Scanning Laser Mass Spectrometry, new features of Pb battery processes are being uncovered. And though the Pb
battery is the largest application of Pb in the modern economy, other technologies
take advantage of the unique properties of Pb. New battery types such as Li/PbS and
solar cells/thermoelectrics based on the perovskite structures on materials contain Pb
which are emerging as important technologies. These applications not only represent
new opportunities for Pb in the economy, but also will motivate the industries continued need to maintain its societal license to operate through continuous improvement
to sustainability.
Keywords Batteries · Solar cells · Thermoelectric · Perovskite · Lithium ion
Introduction
RSR Technologies (RSRT), a member of the ECOBAT group, is a research and
development company engaged in the non-ferrous smelting and refining industries.
The company provides services to battery, mining, and smelting companies. RSR
Technologies is focused on achieving innovations in material science to help companies develop batteries achieving the highest standards for health, safety, and the
environment. The company provides R&D services to its worldwide secondary lead
producers and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
RSRT has been engaged in lead alloy developed for the active material of Pb-acid
batteries in three areas, active material utilization, dynamic charge acceptance, and
cycle life. Batteries tested with the new alloy can approach the performance level of
some lithium batteries, while keeping low costs and maintaining recyclability. With
T. Ellis (B) · T. Hesterberg · M. Drezdzon
RSR Technologies, Dallas, TX, USA
e-mail: tellis@rsrtechnologies.com
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_67
777
on the Properties of Lead
Timothy Ellis, Travis Hesterberg and Mark Drezdzon
Abstract Over the past several years, great strides have been made in the fundamental understanding of the processes at play in a lead (Pb) battery. Using modern
analytical opportunities such as high energy X-rays available at the Advanced Photon
Source at the Argonne National Laboratory and Scanning Laser Mass Spectrometry, new features of Pb battery processes are being uncovered. And though the Pb
battery is the largest application of Pb in the modern economy, other technologies
take advantage of the unique properties of Pb. New battery types such as Li/PbS and
solar cells/thermoelectrics based on the perovskite structures on materials contain Pb
which are emerging as important technologies. These applications not only represent
new opportunities for Pb in the economy, but also will motivate the industries continued need to maintain its societal license to operate through continuous improvement
to sustainability.
Keywords Batteries · Solar cells · Thermoelectric · Perovskite · Lithium ion
Introduction
RSR Technologies (RSRT), a member of the ECOBAT group, is a research and
development company engaged in the non-ferrous smelting and refining industries.
The company provides services to battery, mining, and smelting companies. RSR
Technologies is focused on achieving innovations in material science to help companies develop batteries achieving the highest standards for health, safety, and the
environment. The company provides R&D services to its worldwide secondary lead
producers and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
RSRT has been engaged in lead alloy developed for the active material of Pb-acid
batteries in three areas, active material utilization, dynamic charge acceptance, and
cycle life. Batteries tested with the new alloy can approach the performance level of
some lithium batteries, while keeping low costs and maintaining recyclability. With
T. Ellis (B) · T. Hesterberg · M. Drezdzon
RSR Technologies, Dallas, TX, USA
e-mail: tellis@rsrtechnologies.com
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_67
777