Reinforced supercapacitor electrode via reduced graphene oxide encapsulated NiTe2–FeTe2 hollow nanorods†

Abstract

Metal telluride-based nanomaterials have garnered considerable interest as positive electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their plentiful redox-active sites, robust chemical stability, and excellent electrical conductivity. In this work, these advantageous properties are further enhanced by hybridizing NiTe₂–FeTe₂ (NFT) hollow nanorods with reduced graphene oxide (RGO), resulting in an NFT@RGO composite suitable for supercapacitor applications. The hollow rod-like structure promotes efficient ion diffusion and maximizes the exposure of electroactive sites, while the RGO network boosts conductivity and mitigates nanomaterial agglomeration, thus preserving structural integrity and prolonging material durability. The NFT@RGO-based electrode exhibits a notable capacity of 1388.5 C g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, with 93.82% capacity retention after 10 000 cycles. This remarkable performance arises from the synergistic contributions of the Ni and Fe metals, the electrically conductive Te element, the RGO framework, and the unique hollow morphology of the nanorods. Furthermore, a hybrid device employing activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode (NFT@RGO//AC) achieves an energy density of 61.11 W h kg⁻¹ and retains 89.85% of its capacity over 10 000 cycles, underscoring the promise of NFT@RGO for next-generation supercapacitors. These findings position the designed nanomaterial as an excellent candidate for high-performance energy storage systems.