Electrochemical synthesis, in situ spectroelectrochemistry of conducting indole-titanium dioxide and zinc oxide polymer nanocomposites for rechargeable batteries

• Two novel hybrid materials-based conducting PIn rechargeable batteries were developed.
• The charge-discharging behavior of PIn-nanocomposite batteries were studied.
• The characterization of samples has been done by in situ spectroelectrochemical method.
• PIn-TiO2 and ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized electrochemically on Au and ITO.
• The PIn-TiO2 and ZnO nanocomposites resistances were less than PIn.

Electrochemical synthesis, in situ spectroelectrochemistry of conducting polyindole (PIn), polyindole-TiO2 (PIn-TiO2) and polyindole-ZnO (PIn-ZnO) nanocomposites were investigated. The PIn and polymer nanocomposites were tested electrochemically for rechargeable batteries. The films were characterized by means of CVs, in situ UV-visible, FT-IR spectroscopies, in situ resistivity measurements, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The charge-discharging behavior of a Zn/1 M ZnSO4/PIn cell with a capacity of around 90 Ah Kg−1 and on open circuit potential of around 1.45 V was compared with Zn/1 M ZnSO4/PIn-nanocomposite. The potential differences of redox couples (ΔE) for nanocomposites films show very good reversibility. A positive shift of potential was observed for polymer nanocomposites during redox scan. A significant variability was observed for in situ conductivity of the PIn and polymer nanocomposites. During in situ UV-visible and FT-IR measurements, intermediate spectroscopic behavior and positive shifts of wavelengths were observed for PIn and polymer nanocomposites. The SEM, TEM and EDX of nanocomposite films show the presence of nano particle in PIn.

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