Electrochemical lithium intercalation into a polyaniline/V2O5 nanocomposite

A nanocomposite comprised of conductive poly(aniline) chains interleaved between the layers of set-gel derived V2O5 displays desirable properties as a positive electrode in a Li battery. The reversible capacity of [PANI]yV2O5 (after mild oxygen treatment) is higher than the V2O5 xerogel at intermediate discharge/charge rates at constant current. Li insertion is completely reversible in this modified hybrid material even after deep reduction to 3Li per formula unit, whereas the increased cell polarization exhibited for the xerogel in the same discharge state leads to partial irreversibility. Relaxation studies (GITT) demonstrate that Li diffusion is more rapid in the polymer nanocomposite for x(Li) < 2.0. The effect of the conductive polymer is to facilitate the insertion/deinsertion of the lithium ions between the layers.