Electrochemical lithium insertion into a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)PEDOT/V2O5 nanocomposite

A nanocomposite comprised of conductive poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)PEDOT chains interleaved between the layers of crystalline V2O5 powder has been synthesized by direct in situ oxidation. The interlayer spacing of V2O5 expands from 4.32 to 13.84 Å and this interlayer separation is consistent with the existence of a monolayer of PEDOT in the V2O5 framework. The nanocomposite is coupled with a large-area Li foil counter electrode and a Li wire reference electrode in 1 M LiClO4 in a mixture of ethylene and dimethylcorbonate (50/50 by volume), the discharge capacity is ≥300 m Ah g−1 which is larger than that of pristine V2O5. The significant difference in capacity is explained on the basis of lithium ions insertion/de-insertion between the layers of V2O5.