Polymer-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as lithium intercalation hosts

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized with a hyperbranched aliphatic polyester and two different poly(ethylene glycol)s were synthesized by the reactions of carbonyl chloride groups on the surface of MWNTs and hydroxyl groups of polymers. Electrochemical intercalation of lithium in the three materials was investigated with galvanostatic charge-discharge experiments. The hyperbranched polymer-functionalized MWNT as an electrode material for lithium batteries showed a significant improvement over linear polymer-functionalized MWNTs in lithium insertion/deinsertion capacity and cycle stability. The MWNT functionalized with linear poly(ethylene glycol) showed a high initial capacity of lithium insertion/deinsertion but had the highest capacity fade rate among the materials. Because the polymers were chemically localized in the electrode-electrolyte interface, the comparison between hyperbranched and linear polymer-modified MWNTs manifested the important influence of the electrode-electrolyte interface on the electrochemical properties of lithium batteries.