Poor stability restricts the use of polyaniline as a transition-metal-free, high-capacity electrode material for electrochemical energy storage. To improve the durability, methods such as adding a carbonaceous support and thermal treatments have been suggested. Here, we combine both of these approaches and study their effects on the degradation of a composite of polyaniline and acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PANI/a-MWNT) when used as a positive electrode in a lithium-ion cell. The composite is prepared through facile ultrasonic-assisted mixing of aqueous colloids, processed into binder-free electrodes and heat treated under vacuum (120–180 °C). PANI without the carbon support presents a poor cycling stability due to a decreasing conductivity and changes in the particle morphology. The a-MWNTs are shown to inhibit these changes and to enhance the electrochemical accessibility of PANI in the composite. The heat treatment, in turn, improves the stability of the composite during open circuit conditions, which is ascribed to cross-linking of the polymer. However, with prolonged cycling, the stabilizing effect is lost. Analysis of the electrodes after the cycling reveals that both the pristine and the heat-treated composite undergo dedoping and side reactions with the electrolyte. The extent of the changes is larger for the pristine composite.

稳定性差限制了聚苯胺作为无过渡金属的高容量电极材料用于电化学能量存储的用途。为了提高耐久性，已经提出了诸如添加碳质载体和热处理的方法。在这里，我们将这两种方法结合起来，研究当它们用作锂离子电池的正极时，它们对聚苯胺和酸处理的多壁碳纳米管（PANI / a-MWNT）复合材料降解的影响。该复合材料是通过将水性胶体进行超声辅助混合而制成的，加工成无粘合剂的电极，并在真空（120–180°C）下进行热处理。由于电导率降低和颗粒形态变化，不含碳载体的PANI循环稳定性差。已显示，α-MWNTs可以抑制这些变化并增强复合物中PANI的电化学可及性。热处理继而改善了在开路条件下复合材料的稳定性，这归因于聚合物的交联。但是，随着循环时间的延长，失去了稳定作用。循环后对电极的分析表明，原始材料和热处理过的复合材料均会发生与电解质的去掺杂和副反应。原始复合材料的变化程度更大。循环后对电极的分析表明，原始材料和热处理过的复合材料均会发生与电解质的去掺杂和副反应。原始复合材料的变化程度更大。循环后对电极的分析表明，原始材料和热处理过的复合材料均会发生与电解质的去掺杂和副反应。原始复合材料的变化程度更大。