Polyaniline/Carbon Nanotube Composite Cathode for Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Batteries Assembled with Gel Polymer Electrolyte

A nanocomposite of polyaniline (PANI) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) was prepared by the in situ chemical polymerization of aniline in well-dispersed CNT solution. The PANI/CNT composite was employed as an active cathode material in rechargeable lithium polymer cells. Gel polymer electrolyte based on the porous poly(vinylidenefluoride- co -hexafluoropropylene) membrane was used as an electrolyte material in assembling the cells. The cell delivered a maximum discharge capacity of at the 80th cycle with an average coulombic efficiency of 98%. To investigate the effect and role of CNT in the above composite, two different kinds of cathodes were prepared by mechanically mixing the pure polyaniline with CNT or super-p carbon separately. The electrochemical performances of these two cathode materials were also evaluated in the lithium polymer cells.