Nanostructured Energy Conversion

Abstract

International audienceLithium batteries are among the most promising systems for electrochemical energy storage. However, their capacity and cost-efficiency have to be improved for further applications.1 Lithium/organic batteries offer an interesting alternative to the classical Li-ion systems due to the low molecular weight of organic materials, their potential low cost and recyclability. However, two major roadblocks currently prevent the industrial development in these kind of batteries: (i) the progressive dissolution of the active material in the electrolyte, which hinders the cyclability of the devices and (ii) the electrical insulating nature of organic materials.2Here, we develop a new positive electrode material avoiding the dissolution of the active material in the electrolyte upon cycling, by grafting new diazonium derivatives containing active groups onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) at different ratios between the carbon nanotubes and the active material.3 The MWNTs insure a well distributed electronic conductivity inside the positive electrode and serve as a support for a covalent immobilization of the organic active species