In Situ Synthesis of Hybrid Aerogels from Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polyaniline Nanoribbons as Free-Standing, Flexible Energy Storage Electrodes

Hybrid aerogels consisting of interpenetrating single-walled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline (SWCNT/PANT) nanoribbons were prepared as free-standing, flexible lithium ion battery (LIB) electrodes. Assisted by camphorsulfonic acid, the anilinium cations formed complexation with micelles of dodecylbenzene sulfonate anions within the wet SWCNT network. Very thin PANT nanoribbons (thickness of 10-100 nm, width of 50-1000 nm, and length of 10-20 mu m) were formed within the network after polymerization of aniline. By varying the concentration of aniline, we were able to fine-tune the morphologies of final PANT nanostructures, including nanoribbons, porous nanofibers, and nanoparticles. Specifically, SWCNT/PANI nanoribbon aerogels showed high capacity (185 mAh/g) and good cycle performance (up to 200 times), which could be attributed to synergistic effects of efficient ion/electron transport within the 3D carbon nanotubes network, shortened ion diffusion distance and optimized strain relaxation from nanoribbons and nanotubes, and effective penetration of electrolyte within interconnected nanopores in the network.