A Solar Rechargeable Lithium‐Ion Battery Employing a Bifunctional Nickel Tellurium Oxide Semiconductor for Photoinduced Charge Separation and Intercalation

Abstract

A new and unsophisticated technology for a solar rechargeable lithium‐ion battery is reported on for the first time. The key is a metal tellurium oxide, in this instance nickel tellurium oxide, that functions as a bifunctional solar active material in that it allows for photoinduced charge separation (converting solar energy into electrical energy) and photoinduced intercalation (converting solar energy into chemical energy). The simple design of this battery only entails swapping out graphite (in a regular lithium‐ion battery) for a metal tellurium oxide at the anode. It is shown that this technology allows for both photoinduced charging (during day‐time hours) and electrical charging (during night‐time hours). Although cell potentials are still low, specific capacities are higher for solar charging compared to electrical charging, and Coulombic efficiencies are higher for electrical charging compared to solar charging, this new technology paves the way for the further development of an unsophisticated device that allows for solar to electrical and chemical energy conversion and storage at the same time.