Abstract: A positive electrode for use in a lead-sulfuric acid electrolyte battery comprised of a grid supporting a layer of PbO.sub.2, said grid being comprised of an electrically conducting substrate having an adherent protective at least substantially pinhole-free shield of electrically conducting material, said shield being composed of a coating of semiconducting metal oxide, or a composite of at least a substantially pinhole-free external coating of semiconducting metal oxide and at least a substantially pinhole-free coating of metal intermediate to the substrate and semiconducting oxide coating, said sulfuric acid electrolyte having a substantially deleterious effect on said substrate but having no significant deleterious effect on the shield.