Gallium-Telluride-Based Composite as Promising Lithium Storage Material

Abstract

Various applications of gallium telluride have been investigated, such as in optoelectronic devices, radiation detectors, solar cells, and semiconductors, owing to its unique electronic, mechanical, and structural properties. Among the various forms of gallium telluride (e.g., GaTe, Ga₃Te₄, Ga₂Te₃, and Ga₂Te₅), we propose a gallium (III) telluride (Ga₂Te₃)-based composite (Ga₂Te₃-TiO₂-C) as a prospective anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). The lithiation/delithiation phase change mechanism of Ga₂Te₃ was examined. The existence of the TiO₂-C hybrid buffering matrix improved the electrical conductivity as well as mechanical integrity of the composite anode for LIBs. Furthermore, the impact of the C concentration on the performance of Ga₂Te₃-TiO₂-C was comprehensively studied through cyclic voltammetry, differential capacity analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Ga₂Te₃-TiO₂-C electrode showed high rate capability (capacity retention of 96% at 10 A g^-1 relative to 0.1 A g^-1) as well as high reversible specific capacity (769 mAh g^-1 after 300 cycles at 100 mA g^-1). The capacity of Ga₂Te₃-TiO₂-C was enhanced by the synergistic interaction of TiO₂ and amorphous C. It thereby outperformed the majority of the most recent Ga-based LIB electrodes. Thus, Ga₂Te₃-TiO₂-C can be thought of as a prospective anode for LIBs in the future.

Keywords: Ga2Te3; Ga2Te3-TiO2-C; Li-ion batteries; anodes; lithiation/delithiation.