Rechargeable Nickel Telluride/Aluminum Batteries with High Capacity and Enhanced Cycling Performance

Abstract

Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) possess significant advantages of high energy density, safety performance, and abundant natural resources, making them one of the desirable next-generation substitutes for lithium battery systems. However, the poor reversibility, short lifespan, and low capacity of positive materials have limited its practical applications. In comparison with semiconductors, the metallic nickel telluride (NiTe) alloy with enhanced electrical conductivity and fast electron transmission is a more favorable electrode material that could significantly decrease the kinetic barrier during battery operation for energy storage. In this paper, the NiTe nanorods prepared through a simple hydrothermal routine enable an initial reversible capacity of approximately 570 mA h g −1 (under the current density of 200 mA g −1 ) to be delivered on the basis of the ionic liquid electrolyte, along with the average voltage platform of about 1.30 V. Moreover, the cycling performance could be easily enhanced using a modified separator to prevent the diffusion of soluble intermediate species to the negative electrode side. At a high rate of 500 mA g −1 , the NiTe nanorods could retain a specific capacity of about 307 mA h g −1 at the 100th cycle. The results have important implications for the research of transition metal tellurides as positive electrode materials for AIBs.

Highly Conductive Tellurium and Telluride in Energy Storage

“…Owing to the superior conductivity and fast electron transmission could decrease the kinetic barrier during battery operation, Jiao and his co‐workers applied NiTe as the positive electrode. Moreover, the single walled carbon nanotubes modified separator suppressed shuttle effects to improve cycling performance obviously [59] …”

Two‐Dimensional Metal Telluride Atomic Crystals: Preparation, Physical Properties, and Applications

“…Chen et al. [ 339 ] reported a rechargeable NiTe‐based aluminum battery, which delivered an initial reversible capacity of ≈570 mA h g −1 and it remains a high capacity of ≈307 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles.…”

Metal‐Tellurium Batteries: A Rising Energy Storage System

“…To overcome these issues, the common strategies that have been widely utilized in Li‐Te batteries are using a porous host to confine the electroactive material, where porous structures can serve as two functions: adsorption of polytellurides and suppressing electrode volume change. [ 23,44,46 ] A promising host material is porous carbon, which is also the original prototype of the first Li‐Te battery. In 2014, Wang and co‐workers reported the first Li‐Te battery where Te was impregnated into porous carbon under high temperature (600 °C, melting point of Te 449.5 °C).…”