Rechargeable potassium-ion batteries with honeycomb-layered tellurates as high voltage cathodes and fast potassium-ion conductors

Rechargeable potassium-ion batteries have been gaining traction as not only promising low-cost alternatives to lithium-ion technology, but also as high-voltage energy storage systems. However, their development and sustainability are plagued by the lack of suitable electrode materials capable of allowing the reversible insertion of the large potassium ions. Here, exploration of the database for potassium-based materials has led us to discover potassium ion conducting layered honeycomb frameworks. They show the capability of reversible insertion of potassium ions at high voltages (~4 V for K₂Ni₂TeO₆) in stable ionic liquids based on potassium bis(trifluorosulfonyl) imide, and exhibit remarkable ionic conductivities e.g. ~0.01 mS cm⁻¹ at 298 K and ~40 mS cm⁻¹ at 573 K for K₂Mg₂TeO₆. In addition to enlisting fast potassium ion conductors that can be utilised as solid electrolytes, these layered honeycomb frameworks deliver the highest voltages amongst layered cathodes, becoming prime candidates for the advancement of high-energy density potassium-ion batteries.