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Tellurium: A High‐Volumetric‐Capacity Potassium‐Ion Battery Electrode Material
Author(s) -
Dong Shuai,
Yu Dandan,
Yang Jie,
Jiang Li,
Wang Jiawei,
Cheng Liwei,
Zhou Yan,
Yue Honglei,
Wang Hua,
Guo Lin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201908027
Subject(s) - materials science , tellurium , electrode , electrochemistry , battery (electricity) , ion , chemical engineering , lithium (medication) , potassium , porosity , nanotechnology , composite material , metallurgy , thermodynamics , chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , organic chemistry , engineering , endocrinology
Abstract Currently, exploring high‐volumetric‐capacity electrode materials that allow for reversible (de‐)insertion of large‐size K + ions remains challenging. Tellurium (Te) is a promising alternative electrode for storage of K + ions due to its high volumetric capacity, confirmed in lithium‐/sodium‐ion batteries, and the intrinsic good electronic conductivity. However, the charge storage capability and mechanism of Te in potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs) have not been unveiled until now. Here, a novel K–Te battery is constructed, and the K + ‐ion storage mechanism of Te is revealed to be a two‐electron conversion‐type reaction of 2K + Te ↔ K 2 Te, resulting in a high theoretical volumetric capacity of 2619 mAh cm −3 . Consequently, the rationally fabricated tellurium/porous carbon electrodes deliver an ultrahigh reversible volumetric capacity of 2493.13 mAh cm −3 at 0.5 C (based on Te), a high‐rate capacity of 783.13 mAh cm −3 at 15 C, and superior long‐term cycling stability for 1000 cycles at 5 C. This excellent electrochemical performance proves the feasibility of utilizing Te as a high‐volumetric‐capacity active material for storage of K + ions and will advance the practical application of KIBs.