In this study, the charge-discharge characteristics of polyaniline films used as cathodes in a lithium battery were determined. The polymer films were synthesized in a propylene carbonate medium in the presence of trichloroacetic acid. The discharge capacity and the coulombic efficiency observed for polyaniline thin films were 107 A h kg(-1) and 97.5%, respectively. For thick polyaniline films the values obtained were 82 A h kg(-1) and 95.0%, for the discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency, respectively. These values were stable after the seventh charge-discharge cycle. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.