Capitalize the first letter in acronym list

Question

When using the acronym package I would like to capitalize the first letter in the acronym description (e.g., Direct current). But when used in text I would like to have the word in lower letters.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{acronym}

\begin{document}
\begin{acronym}
\acro{DC}{direct current}
\end{acronym}

Batteries run on \ac{DC}.
\end{document}

Output:

DC direct current

Batteries run on direct current (DC).

Answer 1

You can patch the \AC@@acro macro that's responsible for printing the list of acronyms:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{acronym}
\usepackage{etoolbox}
\makeatletter
\patchcmd{\AC@@acro}{] #3}{] \MakeUppercase #3}{}{}
\patchcmd{\AC@@acro}{] #3}{] \MakeUppercase #3}{}{}
\makeatother

%%% Alternative way (commented out because you may not have the package)
% \usepackage{regexpatch}
% \makeatletter
% \xpatchcmd*{\AC@@acro}{] #3}{] \MakeUppercase #3}{}{}
% \makeatother

\begin{document}
\begin{acronym}
\acro{DC}{direct current}
\end{acronym}

Batteries run on \ac{DC}.
\end{document}

Answer 2

A suggestion can be to define a new Command:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{acronym}

\begin{document}
\newcommand*\FirstLetter[2]{#1}
\begin{acronym}
\acro{DC}{\protect\FirstLetter{D}{d}irect current}
\end{acronym}
\renewcommand*\FirstLetter[2]{#2}

Batteries run on \ac{DC}.
\end{document}

Result:

DC Direct current

Batteries run on direct current (DC).

---

Do work without \protect inside \acronym you can make the definition with expl3:

\ExplSyntaxOn
\cs_new_protected:Npn \FirstLetter #1#2 { #1 }
\ExplSyntaxOff

\ExplSyntaxOn
\cs_set_protected:Npn \FirstLetter #1#2 { #2 }
\ExplSyntaxOff