Open Access

Samantha Husmann, Aldo J. G. Zarbin, Robert A. W. Dryfe

• Aqueous rechargeable batteries are sustainable energy storage devices with the potential to replace the current state-of-the-art organic phase secondary batteries. Electrode materials for secondary batteries are often based on composite structures, which combine an electronically conducting scaffold with an ionic conductor, whose properties define battery capacity. Optimal integration of these components can be challenging: here we describe a novel approach to prepare electrode materials based on growth at the liquid-liquid interface. This is illustrated with the synthesis of a carbon nanotube/Prussian blue nanocomposite as free-standing transparent thin films, which are applied as cathodes for aqueous rechargeable potassium batteries. Prussian blue is synthesized through an acid-induced decomposition of ferricyanide, promoted by an interfacial electron transfer from an organic phase donor (1,1′-dimethylferrocene) under ambient conditions. The interfacial synthesis yields selective growth of cubic Prussian blue crystals on the carbon nanotube walls, enhancing interaction between the ionic and electronically conducting components, and resulting in a self-assembled film at the liquid/liquid interface. The films are readily transferred to flexible membranes and applied as cathodes in an aqueous rechargeable K+ battery. Coin-cell devices with activated carbon anodes gave a capacity of 47.6 mAh g−1 at 0.25 A g−1 with an energy density of 33.75 Wh kg−1