Electrochemical and surface characterization of composite material: Polyaniline/LiMn2O4

• The synthesis of PANI/LiMn2O4 by electropolymerization
• Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of PANI/LiMn2O4
• The PANI exhibits greater electrochemical behavior in the presence of LiMn2O4.

The preparation of polyaniline/LiMn2O4 composite films by electropolymerization of aniline in the presence of LiMn2O4 is reported. Cyclic voltammetry shows three redox couples characteristic of the different oxidation and reduction states of produced polyaniline/LiMn2O4 composite. It was shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy that the presence of LiMn2O4 particles enhanced the conductivity of polyaniline films. The morphology and structure of the composites were characterized by FTIR, UV–vis, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology of the PANI/LiMn2O4 composite films revealed a coarser structural morphology compared to pure PANI. To obtain additional information about the surface characteristics of the PANI films, their roughness was investigated. X-ray diffraction, EDS and FTIR analysis confirmed the incorporation of LiMn2O4 in the composite films.