High performance PPO/Ti3+/TiO2NT membrane/electrode for lithium ion battery

In order to improve the electrical conductivity and electrochemical performances of lithium ion battery, the electrodeposition of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) on Ti3+-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (Ti3+/TiO2NT) was designed and achieved via self-doping of Ti3+ and the following electropolymerization of phenol monomers. The as-synthesized PPO/Ti3+/TiO2NT membrane/electrode was investigated in terms of SEM, EDX, XPS, galvanostatic charge/discharge, cycle voltammetry (CV) and AC impedance. As expected, PPO film indeed grew onto the surface of Ti3+/TiO2NT electrode via one-step electrodeposition; furthermore, PPO/Ti3+/TiO2NT membrane/electrode delivered satisfactory rate performances and cycle stability, mainly attributed to the joint contributions from higher electrical conductivity of Ti3+/TiO2NT electrode and the synergy effects between Ti3+/TiO2NT electrode and loose PPO film.