Effect of PPy/PEG conducting polymer film on electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 cathode material for Li-ion batteries

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been the most commonly used batteries in the portable electronics market for many years. Polypyrrole (PPy) was now investigated as a conducting addition agent to enhance the cathode and anode materials performance in LIBs. Actual development in the synthesis and modification of the most promising cathode materials, LiFePO₄, is described in this mini-review. The main aim of this mini-review is to highlight the effect of PPy based conducting polymer films on the electrochemical efficiency of LiFePO₄ based cathode materials for LIBs summarizing our own research. Influence of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) additive in the PPy coating layer was evaluated. The improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to the enhanced electronic conductivity, higher solubility of ions originating from the electrolyte, higher movability of dissolved Li⁺ ions, and improved structural flexibility resulting from the incorporation of the PPy or PPy/PEG conducting polymer layer. The stabilizing effect of PEG in PPy was reflected in lowered cross-linking and reduced structural defects and, in consequence, in higher specific capacity of PPy/PEG-LiFePO₄ cathodes compared to that of PPy-LiFePO₄ cathodes and bare LiFePO₄ cathodes.