Ionic Liquid-Based Rechargeable Lithium Metal-Polymer Cells Assembled with Polyaniline/Carbon Nanotube Composite Cathode

A polyaniline (PANI)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) composite was synthesized by in situ chemical polymerization. The PANI/CNT composite was used as an active cathode material in lithium metal-polymer cells assembled with ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte. The IL-based electrolyte was composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and vinylene carbonate (VC) as an additive, together with . Porous poly(vinylidene- co -hexafluoropropylene) [P(VdF- co -HFP)] film was used as a polymer membrane for assembling the cell. Electrochemical performance of the Li/IL/PANI-CNT cells was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance measurements, and constant-current charge/discharge cycling. Lithium metal-polymer cells assembled with the IL electrolyte showed good cyclability with a maximum discharge capacity of and good high-rate performance.