Page 314 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

Polymer nanocomposites 10

for lithium battery applications

†
‡
S. Ferrari*, J.R. Nair , Y. Zhou , C. Wan ‡
†
*Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, P. R. China, International Institute for
Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM), WMG, University of Warwick, Coventry, United
‡
Kingdom, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-12: Helmholtz Institute M€ unster
(HI MS) Ionics in Energy Storage, M€ unster, Germany

10.1 Introduction

The intermittent nature of renewable energy resources from wind, ocean wave, and
solar energy requires reliable energy storage systems to store and deliver energy on
demand. Compared with conventional batteries, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have
demonstrated advantages including operating voltage of up to 4 V, specific energy
1
between 100 and 150 Wh kg , and capacity ranging from 700 to 2400 mAh for a
single cell (battery) [1], which allow them to be applied in a wide range of applications
from consumer electronics to hybrid vehicles.
However, the current LIB technology has been limited by insufficient power
density, cycle life, and safety; specific challenges are the availability and accessibility
of lithium metals and transition metal compounds for cathode materials, insufficient
capacity and low stability of anode materials, and flammability of organic electro-
lytes. The characteristics of flexibility, portability, light weight, and multi-
functionality represent the future direction for energy storage devices. The recent
progress in carbon-based organic compounds and π-conjugated polymers has shown
promising redox tunability and electrochemical stability that outperform the inorganic
semiconductors. Conducting polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)
(PEDOT) have displayed cathode-active properties when properly doped [2]. Radical
polymer-based organic electrodes operate via simple reversible redox reactions and
have fast charge/discharge and high capacity as compared with the conversion-
intercalation chemistry of inorganic materials [3]. The first organic radical polymer
batteries developed by NEC Corp have provided sufficient power for a 140 W desktop
PC for data backup system [4]. The current limitations of conducting polymers are
the insolubility, poor processability, and brittleness; the radical polymers are limited
by the susceptible solubility in electrolytes, variable redox stability, and low electric
conductivity. The components of a typical LIB and the corresponding electrochemical
charge/discharge processes are shown in Fig. 10.1.
The incorporation of nanoparticles in electroactive polymers can potentially
manipulate the functions and properties and lead to infinite possibilities towards
high-energy and high-capacity LIBs. According to the IUPAC recommendations, a

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