Photo-rechargeable battery using new layer compound CuFeTe2

Photo-rechargeable battery is a device that converts photo-energy to electrochemical energy and stores it. Many electrode materials have been studied for this device. These materials are mainly layered semiconducting compounds. We synthesized a new layered compound CuFeTe2. In this study, CuFeTe2 was tested for photo-rechargeable battery electrode. As a result, we revealed that CuFeTe2 was charged by a Xe lamp irradiation. Further a model for this photo-charging mechanism is proposed.