Preparation of polyaniline-poly (p-styrenesulfonic acid) composite by post-polymerization and application as positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery

Polyaniline (PANI)-poly (p-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS) composite was prepared by thermal post-polymerization of PANI-p-styrenesulfonic acid (SSA) composite. A PANI–SSA composite was prepared by mixing PANI/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solution with SSA aqueous solution. The PANI–SSA composite film was prepared by casting the composite onto an ITO glass plate. The cast film was converted to PANI-PSS film by heating at 100°C for 3h (post-polymerization process). The PANI–PSS modified ITO electrode showed electrochemical responses based on the redox reaction of PANI–PSS composite in the organic electrolyte solution, for example, propylene carbonate containing 1moldm−3 LiClO4. The PANI–PSS composite was a cation -doping polymer composite. The composite was also modified on a porous carbon material (Reticulated Vitreous CarbonTM, RVC, Energy Research and Generation, Inc.). The PANI–PSS modified RVC electrode showed similar electrochemical behaviour as the PANI–PSS modified ITO electrode. Model secondary lithium cells, Li|1moldm−3 LiClO4-propylene carbonate|PANI–PSS modified RVC electrode, were constructed and charge–discharge cycling tests were carried out. The cell showed about 60% coulombic efficiency under high current density cycling conditions (3.8Ag−1, per gram of PANI–PSS modified RVC electrode).