Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of polyaniline/MoO3 nanobelt composite for lithium battery

Graphical abstract: Hydrothermal method was introduced for the synthesis of MoO{sub 3} nanobelts and polyaniline (PANI)/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composites. The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. We can see the presence of polyaniline on the MoO{sub 3} nanobelts surface in the TEM pictures as shown in Fig. (a). The pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts exhibit the initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}, whereas PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite shows little low initially 228 mAhg{sup −1} after that it has more stabilized specific capacity with increasing cycle numbers as shown in Fig. (b). The cyclic voltammograms of the PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite show better cyclic performance compared to pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts. The electrochemical impedance spectres were studied for both the pure and PANI/MoO{sub 3} samples at 2.0 and 3.5 potentials. The role of the PANI polymeric component of the composite material seems to be the stabilization of the specific capacity due to probable homogeneous distribution of the induced stress during cycling. Display Omitted Highlights: ► Hydrothermal synthesis of MoO{sub 3}, PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelts. ► Samples were characterised by XRD, FTIR, DSC,more » SEM, TEM, CV and impedance. ► MoO{sub 3} nanobelts cathode battery shows initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}. ► PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelts show initial specific capacity 228 mAhg{sup −1} but high stability. ► PANI/MoO{sub 3} sample studies by impedance at the potentials of 2.0 and 3.5 V. -- Abstract: The MoO{sub 3} nanobelts and polyaniline (PANI)/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite were synthesized using hydrothermal method. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermo gravimetric (TG) measurements were carried out for PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite. The pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts exhibit the initial specific capacity 276 mAhg{sup −1}, whereas PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite showed little low initially 228 mAhg{sup −1} after that it has more stabilized specific capacity with increasing cycle numbers at constant current density of 30.7 mAg{sup −1} in the potential range 1.0–4.0 V vs. Li/Li{sup +}. The electrochemical impedance profiles were also studied. The cyclic voltammograms of the PANI/MoO{sub 3} nanobelt composite showed better cyclic performance as compared with pure MoO{sub 3} nanobelts, this is due to the role of PANI polymeric component stabilization of the specific capacity by homogeneous distribution within nanobelts.« less