Factors affecting the electrochemical performance of organic/V2O5 hybrid cathode materials

Polyaniline–V2O5 hybrid materials have been prepared by an oxidative intercalation reaction and the factors that affect their electrochemical discharge–charge performance have been investigated. The first discharge capacity of a sample produced from a nominal molar ratio of aniline: V2O5=3 (V2O5–(AN)3.0) is higher than that of a sample prepared from the lower ratio of aniline: V2O5=0.5 (V2O5–(AN)0.5). The V2O5–(AN)0.5 sample also shows better reversibility. Samples have been post-treated at different temperatures in air or oxygen. Post-treatment improves the electrochemical performance of V2O5–(AN)0.5 but degrades both the capacity and reversibility of V2O5–(AN)3.0. A V2O5–(AN)0.5 sample post-treated at 70 °C in air exhibits the best discharge–charge characteristics.