Lead dioxides as cathodic materials for lithium polymer cells

The cathodic behaviour of both varieties a- and β-PbO 2 in the presence of lithium ion was studied. The chemical lithiation was obtained by reaction with n-butyllithium. The chromatographic analysis of the chemical products revealed both octane and butane. The presence of butane as coproduct could be due to the hydrogen substitution reaction with n-butyllithium. The electrochemical behaviour was studied with deposited PbO 2 cathodes on stainless steel with a LiClO 4/polyethylene oxide electrolyte. By using slow scan voltammetry, the cathodic reduction process results in the peak reduction at potential 2.4 V versus Li/ Li + for α-PbO 2 and 2.74 V versus Li/Li + for β-PbO 2. The present work suggests that cathodic reduction is lithium intercalation in surface-layered PbO 2 molecules.