Tellurium Enriched Over-Oxidized MoTe2 Anchored MXene Sheets: A Promising Li-ion Battery Anode Material

Abstract

To address the challenge of low electronic and ionic conductivities in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), we synthesized MoTe₂@Ti₃C₂T_x via a modified hydrothermal route. This 2D van der Waals composite exhibited a stable reversible specific discharge capacity of 566 mAh/g at 0.1 C (67 mA/g) and retained 71 % of its initial capacity during rate performance tests. Notably, cycling stability tests revealed an increased discharge capacity of 316.4 mAh/g after 564 cycles at 0.4 C (268 mA/g), which improved further to 378.2 mAh/g after 922 cycles at 1 C (670 mA/g). The exceptional electrochemical performance stems from the unique MoTe₂@Ti₃C₂T_x architecture, enhancing Li⁺ site exposure and ensuring structural stability. This composite emerges as a promising and easily synthesizable advanced anode material for LIBs, offering enhanced conductivity and stability.