Red phosphorus (rP) is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, owing to its high theoretical capacity. However, its low electronic conductivity and large volume expansion during cycling limit its practical applications, as it exhibits low electrochemical activity and unstable cyclability. To address these problems, tellurium (Te)-rP-C composites, which have active materials (Te, rP) that are uniformly distributed within the carbon matrix, were fabricated through a simple high-energy ball milling method. Among the three electrodes, the Te-rP (1:2)-C electrode with a 5% FEC additive delivers a high initial CE of 80% and a high reversible capacity of 734 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g-1. Additionally, it exhibits a high-rate capacity of 580 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 10,000 mA g-1. Moreover, a comparison of the electrolytes with and without the 5% FEC additive demonstrated improved cycling stability when the FEC additive was used. Ex situ XRD analysis demonstrated the lithiation/delithiation mechanism of Te-rP (1:2)-C after cycling based on the cyclic voltammetry results. Based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis results, a Te-rP-C composite with its notable electrochemical performance as an anode can sufficiently contribute to the battery anode industry.
Keywords: Li-ion battery anodes; carbon matrix; high-energy ball milling; high-rate capability; red phosphorus; tellurium.