Structural and electrochemical characterization of polyaniline/LiCoO2 nanocomposites prepared via a Pickering emulsion

Abstract

Polyaniline (PANI)/LiCoO2 nanocomposite materials are successfully ready through a solid-stabilized emulsion (Pickering emulsion) route. The properties of nanocomposite materials have been put to the test because of their possible relevance to electrodes of lithium batteries. Such nanocomposite materials appear thanks to the polymerization of aniline in Pickering emulsion stabilized with LiCoO2 particles. PANI has been produced through oxidative polymerization of aniline and ammonium persulfate in HCl solution. The nanocomposite materials of PANI/LiCoO2 could be formed with low amounts of PANI. The morphology of PANI/LiCoO2 nanocomposite materials shows nanofibers and round-shape-like morphology. It was found that the morphology of the resulting nanocomposites depended on the amount of LiCoO2 used in the reaction system. Ammonium persulfate caused the loss of lithium from LiCoO2 when it was used at high concentration in the polymerization recipe. Highly resolved splitting of 006/102 and 108/110 peaks in the XRD pattern provide evidence to well-ordered layered structure of the PANI/LiCoO2 nanocomposite materials with high LiCoO2 content. The ratios of the intensities of 003 and 104 peaks were found to be higher than 1.2 indicating no pronounced mixing of the lithium and cobalt cations. The electrochemical reactivity of PANI/LiCoO2 nanocomposites as positive electrode in a lithium battery was examined during lithium ion deinsertion and insertion by galvanostatic charge–discharge testing; PANI/LiCoO2 nanocomposite materials exhibited better electrochemical performance by increasing the reaction reversibility and capacity compared to that of the pristine LiCoO2 cathode. The best advancement has been observed for the PANI/LiCoO2 nanocomposite 5 wt.% of aniline.