Synthesis of polyaniline and application of hydrophobic breathable structure in zinc–polyaniline battery

A polyaniline/carbon (PANI/C) composite material was synthesized by chemical oxidation polymerization method and was manufactured to the form of gas diffusion electrode inspired by a zinc–air battery, and was used as cathode material. The composite’s structure and morphology of the synthesized polyaniline (PANI) composites were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of the electrodes were examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), polarization curves, and galvanostatic discharge. The cell voltage kept at 0.88 V for 100 h during the galvanostatic discharge progress at the current of 10 mA and the specific discharge capacity achieved 1850 mAh/g which was 10 times more than the theory value of traditional Zn–PANI battery (about 100–200 mAh/g at the current density of 0.5 mA/cm 2 ). Polyaniline acts as a special catalyst to catalyze oxygen reduction to achieve large capacity.