Electrocatalytic performances of multi-walled carbon nanotubes chemically modified by metal phthalocyanines in Li/SOCl2 batteries

Abstract

A series of metal 2,9,16,23-tetraaminophthalocyanines [TAPcM, M = Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Fe(II), Mn(II)] have been prepared and used to chemically modify fluorinated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs). The generated composites TAPcM/MWCNTs were characterized by IR, UV-Vis and XRD. The electrocatalytic activity of all the composites was evaluated by adding them into the electrolyte of the Li/SOCl₂ battery and taking cyclic voltammograms in simulated circumstances. The results show that the composites can dramatically improve the capacity of the battery, and their electrocatalytic performance strongly depends on the metal phthalocyanine species. The order of the electrocatalytic activity of 2,9,16,23-TAPcM and 2,9,16,23-TAPcM/MWCNTs with different metal ions in the center is Mn(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) > Fe(II) > Cu(II). The excellent electrocatalytic performance of the modified F-MWCNTs may be due to the fine synergistic effect between the metal phthalocyanines and the MWCNTs.