We have developed a novel nanocomposite material,
[PANI]0.24MoO3, comprised of
poly(aniline) chains interleaved with the layers of MoO3, using
concomitant ion exchange−polymerization in the presence of an external oxidizing agent. The
characterization of this
material using SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, powder XRD, and thermal analysis
shows that
the poly(aniline) is present primarily in the emeraldine salt
form. The high degree of ordering
evident from the oriented film XRD patterns suggests that the PANI
chains are at least
partially aligned in the ac (basal) plane. The
properties of the polymer nanocomposite for
electrochemical lithium insertion were compared to those of the alkali
molybdenum oxide
using the materials as cathodes in conventional lithium cells. The
polymer/oxide battery
demonstrated substantially reduced cell polarization on galvanostatic
cycling, compared to
the alkali molybdenum oxide in the absence of PANI. The resultant
enhanced ion and/or
electron transport induced by incorporation of the polymer, in addition
to the redox capacity
of the intercalated PANI, provided a moderate increase in cell capacity
and improved the
reversibility of the Li insertion reaction.
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