| Abstract
| - Rapid synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoribbons interleaved between the layersof crystalline V2O5 is achieved for the first time under microwave irradiation via the redox intercalativepolymerization reaction of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer and crystalline V2O5 at differenttime intervals. Compared with the conventional 12 h of refluxing for intercalative polymerization, themicrowave-assisted redox polymerization process proceedes rapidly, enabling the expansion of the interlayerspacing of crystalline V2O5 from 0.43 to 1.41 nm within 8 min. The characterization of this material usingpowder XRD, XPS, EPR, SEM, and HRTEM analysis supports the intercalation of the polymer betweenV2O5 layers, leading to enhanced bidimensionality. XPS analysis clearly shows the presence of mixed-valentV4+/V5+ in the V2O5 framework after the redox intercalative polymerization, which also confirms chargetransfer from the polymer to the V2O5 framework. EPR study also reveals redox processes during EDOTinsertion and polymerization between the V2O5 layers. After PEDOT insertion into V2O5, the EPR signalfrom VO2+ is more pronounced as the intensity of the signal increases as compared to that of pristine V2O5.This nanocomposite when coupled with a large-area Li foil electrode in 1 M LiClO4 in a mixture of ethyleneand dimethyl carbonate (1:1 by volume) gives a discharge capacity of ∼350 mA h g-1, which is significantlyhigher than that of pristine V2O5.
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