Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Composites for Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Paper electrodes are categorized as an emerging technology for flexible and environment friendly energy storage and energy conversion devices including, batteries, supercapacitors and solar cells. But the use of paper electrodes is somehow limited because of their low conductivity, due to the presence of insulating matrix in it. But this issue can be resolved by depositing a metallic layer on paper electrode to enhance the conductive properties of paper electrodes. This study presents the deposition of metals by three different techniques i.e. Electrodeposition, Sputtering and Dip coating. Electrodeposition is carried out by depositing ions of metals on substrates. Sputtering is done in the presence of vacuum while in dip coating a substrate is simply submerged into solution of metals. Fibers from Monochorea Vaginalis plant were taken and then dried, which were then treated in bleaching solution to make flexible and smooth sheet. Then, these sheets were further used to make LC/TiO2 composite sheet with ratio of 1:5. Then these sheets used for depositing gold and silver on it by using three different approaches i.e. Electrodeposition, Sputtering and Dip Coating for different time intervals. Electrodeposition and Dip coating was done for 3000, 6000, 9000 secs while sputtering was done for 100 and 200 sec. By depositing gold and silver on LC/TiO2 composite sheets, we obtain paper electrodes as depositing a metallic layer enhance the electronic conductivity of sheet. Then, these samples are characterized using different techniques SEM , FTIR, CV and Specific capacitance. Structural analysis using SEM confirm the deposition of metallic layer . While FTIR also confirm the presence of gold and silver in it. CV and Specific capacitance show the enhancement of conductivity after deposition of metals on LC/TiO2.