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Vanadium telluride VTe2: a novel cathode for rechargeable aluminum batteries and its performance optimization
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Vanadium telluride VTe2: a novel cathode for rechargeable aluminum batteries and its performance optimization

Rafael Cordoba, Ruocun (John) Wang, Vanessa Trouillet and Sonia Dsoke
Journal of power sources, v 669, 239403
30 Mar 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239403
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239403View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Chemistry Chemistry, Physical Energy & Fuels Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Science & Technology Electrochemistry Materials Science Physical Sciences Technology
Vanadium telluride VTe2 has been successfully synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and characterized for the first time as a cathode for rechargeable aluminum batteries. The electrochemical activity of VTe2 originates from the redox pairs Te4+/Te2- and V5+/V4+. VTe2 delivers a first discharge capacity of 275 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) vs. an Al anode. The charge transport within VTe2 is based on interaction with AlCl4- anions, while the charge storage mechanism is dominated by surface-controlled processes at low voltages and by diffusion-controlled processes at high voltages. However, VTe2 suffers a rapid, drastic capacity loss and a short cycle life (<100 cycles) due to the corrosive chloroaluminate electrolyte, which dissolves the cathode active material upon charging and causes the shuttle effect. Ti3C2Tx MXene (forming a composite with VTe2) and CMK-3 mesoporous carbon (embedded onto the separators) are used as strategies to avoid the shuttle effect of soluble species towards the anode. This enables the reversibility of the redox reaction, allowing VTe2 to develop a sustained electrochemical activity. VTe2/Ti3C2Tx composite with CMK-3 modified separators shows improved electrochemical performance over as-prepared VTe2: 63 mAh g(-1) after 300 cycles vs. 10 mAh g(-1) after 75 cycles at 100 mA g(-1).

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