Polypyrrole Films Derived from Vapor Phase Polymerization As Free-Standing Anodes for Li-Ion and Na-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Recently, lightweight, bendable and wearable electronic devices have been prevailing in the markets, there is a strong demand for high performance flexible electrode-active materials without binder and conductive agent that possess a high flexibility and energy capacity [1-3]. Li-ion batteries have received great attention as power sources for portable electronic devices, hybrid electric vehicles and energy storage system. However, considering the limited and uneven distribution of lithium minerals, room temperature Na-ion batteries have received growing attention because of their low cost and abundant supply. Na-ion batteries and Li-ion batteries share the same architecture of battery design. One of the major challenges for Na-ion batteries is to discover suitable electrode materials with high and stable sodium storage capabilities. We propose here a polypyrrole (PPy) thin film synthesized by an easy, inexpensive and scalable vapor phase polymerization (VPP) technique (Figure 1) [3]. As shown in Figure 1, the obtained PPy film shows smooth surface and continuously cross-linked structure. From the XRD and HR-TEM results (Figure 1), the obtained PPy film possesses well-ordered crystallized structure, which is helpful for Li+ and Na+charges transfer and storage. The as-derived free-standing PPy film anodes exhibit high rate performance and stable cycling life for both Li-ion batteries and Na-ion batteries. Detailed electrochemical properties and the structural transformation during charge-discharge processes of PPy film as anodes for Li-ion batteries and Na-ion batteries will be presented at the meeting. Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation of China (21403139, 51472161, 51472160), the Shanghai Pujiang Program (No. 14PJ1407100), the Key Program for the Fundamental Research of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (15JC1490800, 12JC1406900) and the International Cooperation Program of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (14520721700). We acknowledge the support of the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning (TP2014048) and the Hujiang Foundation of China (B14006).