Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of polyaniline/MoO3 nanobelt composite for lithium battery

The MoO3 nanobelts and polyaniline (PANI)/MoO3 nanobelt composite were synthesized using hydrothermal method. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermo gravimetric (TG) measurements were carried out for PANI/MoO3 nanobelt composite. The pure MoO3 nanobelts exhibit the initial specific capacity 276 mAhg−1, whereas PANI/MoO3 nanobelt composite showed little low initially 228 mAhg−1 after that it has more stabilized specific capacity with increasing cycle numbers at constant current density of 30.7 mAg−1 in the potential range 1.0–4.0 V vs. Li/Li+. The electrochemical impedance profiles were also studied. The cyclic voltammograms of the PANI/MoO3 nanobelt composite showed better cyclic performance as compared with pure MoO3 nanobelts, this is due to the role of PANI polymeric component stabilization of the specific capacity by homogeneous distribution within nanobelts.