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Electrochemically Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and their Application to Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Author(s) -
Baibarac Mihaela,
LiraCantú Mónica,
OróSolé Judith,
CasañPastor Nieves,
GomezRomero Pedro
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200600148
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , materials science , cyclic voltammetry , lithium (medication) , polymerization , electrochemistry , carbazole , surface modification , electrolyte , chemical engineering , electrode , acetonitrile , nanotube , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , polymer , composite material , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , engineering
Electrochemical polymerization of N‐vinyl carbazole (VC) on carbon nanotube (CNT) films was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in LiClO 4 /acetonitrile solutions. Comparing the cyclic voltammograms recorded on a blank Pt electrode with those obtained when single‐ or multi‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT or MWNT) films were previously deposited onto the Pt electrode, a downshift of the VC reduction peak potential is observed in the latter case. The influences of monomer concentration, type of solvent, and supporting electrolyte on the polymerization conditions and electrochemical properties of these composite materials are also investigated. The morphological aspects of poly(N‐vinyl carbazole) (PVC)‐functionalized CNTs are revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. A covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with PVC is invoked as a result of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopic studies. Using PVC‐functionalized CNTs as a positive electrode and an electrolytic solution containing LiPF 6 , the charge–discharge characteristics of the rechargeable lithium cells are determined. High specific discharge capacity (≈45 and 115 mA h g −1 ) is reported for PVC‐functionalized single‐ and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes, respectively.