Dual‐Ligand Zn‐Based Metal–Organic Framework as Reversible and Stable Anode Material for Next Generation Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received intensive scientific attention as electrode materials for lithium‐ion batteries because of their tailorable physical and chemical properties by incorporating different organic ligands. Herein, a zinc‐based MOF (Zn‐MOF) with a special dual‐ligand system, tris(4‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl)amine and dihydroxylterepthate, as anode material for lithium‐ion batteries is successfully fabricated. The activated Zn‐MOF based battery delivered a reversible and efficient lithium storage capacity of ≈200 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 with a 99% Coulombic efficiency over 1000 cycles. The sweep rate cyclic voltammetry and ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on the electrode materials at different charging/discharging states reveal that lithium insertion in the organic moiety with a diffusion‐controlled process plays a critical role in the storage mechanism of the Zn‐MOF anode. Further spectroscopic analysis reveals the excellent material stability of dual‐ligand Zn‐MOFs with limited solid–electrolyte interface growth under long‐term charge–discharge operation, which is beneficial for next‐generation battery anodes.