Effect of polyaniline to enhance lithium iron phosphate conductivity

Abstract

Lithium cobalt oxide is commonly used as secondary battery. One of the disadvantages of lithium cobalt oxide is highly toxicity waste. One of the promising cathode is lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). But it has poor conductivity (10-9 S/cm), so conductive material must be added to improve its conductivity. The present paper aims to study the effect of Polyaniline (PANI) and PVDF to enhance lithium iron phosphate conductivity. PANI was prepared through interfacial polymerization. Hydrochloric acid, ammonium persulfate, and toluene were used as dopant, oxidant, and organic solvent respectively. Their morphology was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), molecular structure was investigated by Infrared Spectroscopy, and conductivity was confirmed by four point probes method. The composite products have conductivities in the range 9.14 × 10-3-6.2×10-1 S/cm. This result is expected to provide an alternative conductive material that can improve the conductivity of lithium iron phosphate, as well as the alternative cathode which is environmental friendly, and no harmful waste.