Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Reduced Graphene Oxide/Tellurium Nanowires: A High-Performance Freestanding Cathode for Li-Te Batteries

Three-dimensional aerogel with ultrathin tellurium nanowires (TeNWs) wrapped homogeneously by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is realized via a facile hydrothermal method. Featured with high conductivity and large flexibility, the rGO constructs a conductive three-dimensional (3D) backbone with rich porosity and leads to a free-standing, binder-free cathode for lithium-tellurium (Li-Te) batteries with excellent electrochemical performances. The cathode shows a high initial capacity of 2611 mAh cm^-3 at 0.2 C, a high retention of 88% after 200 cycles, and a high-rate capacity of 1083 mAh cm^-3 at 10 C. In particular, the 3D aerogel cathode delivers a capacity of 1685 mAh cm^-3 at 1 C after 500 cycles, showing pronounced long-cycle performance at high current density. The performances are attributed to the well-defined flexible 3D architecture with high porosity and conductivity network, which offers highly efficient channels for electron transfer and ionic diffusion while compromising volume expansion of Te in charge/discharge. Owing to such advantageous properties, the reported 3D rGO/tellurium nanowire (3DGT) aerogel presents promising application potentials as a high-performance cathode for Li-Te batteries.