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New organic-inorganic nanocomposite materials for energy storage applications. Technical report, October 1996--June 1998

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:649560
A method is described by which the disulfide dimer of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (diDMcT) can be oxidatively intercalated into the layered structure of a V{sub 2}O{sub 5} xerogel. This intercalation reaction produces a new organic-inorganic composite material with a layer spacing of 13.5 A, in contrast to the 11.55 A spacing for the parent V{sub 2}O{sub 5} xerogel. During this oxidative intercalation, the diDMcT is polymerized to produce a polymer with thiadiazole rings linked by disulfides in the polymer main chain (PDTT). The composite material is characterized by UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry, X-ray diffraction, FTIR and electrochemistry. The electrochemical experiments comprised charging (oxidation) and discharging (reduction) of the material, with the bulk of the redox reaction occurring over a broad potential range of 0.5 V to {minus}0.6 V versus SCE. The cyclic voltammogram of the composite material shows features that can be attributed to the DMcT-PDTT redox response. However, during or after reduction of the composite, the monomeric DMcT dithiolate appears to be expelled from the V{sub 2}O{sub 5} interlayer region, leading to an evolution of the electrochemical response back to that of the original V{sub 2}O{sub 5} material. Evidence is presented suggesting that the V{sub 2}O{sub 5} host material facilitates the redox reactions of the thiol-disulfide redox couple while it is within the interlayer region.
Research Organization:
Wyoming Univ., Dept. of Chemistry, Laramie, WY (United States)
OSTI ID:
649560
Report Number(s):
AD-A--348902/XAB; CNN: Contract N00014-96-1-0673
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English