Electrochemical characterization of CuF2/CNTs cathode materials prepared by a coprecipitation method

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were proposed to improve the electrochemical performances of copper fluoride (CuF2) via a coprecipitation method. FE-SEM and TEM results proved that the three-dimensional conductive network was constructed by the addition of CNTs in the composites, in which some CuF2 particles attached to the outside of CNTs, and some of them grew inside the tube. According to the charge-discharge tests, with CNTs content increasing from 0 wt.% to 30 wt.%, the initial discharge capacities of CuF2 increased from 461 to 571 mAh/g, which exceeded the theoretical specific capacity of the CuF2. Moreover, the electrodes with CNTs exhibited better reversibility and rate performance than the bare electrode. CV and EIS results confirmed that the enhancements could be attributed to the inhibition of the electrochemical polarization of the electrode and the improvement on the diffusion coefficient of lithium ion in the electrode by the addition of CNTs.