Free-standing films based on Ni wires core/foamed NiO shell as hosts for stable lithium anodes

Abstract

Due to the stable three-dimensional (3D) conductive skeleton and superior lithiophilic surface, lithiophilic 3D conductive network structures are considered as excellent hosts for lithium metal batteries. How to efficiently construct unique lithiophilic 3D conductive structures as stable hosts for lithium metal anodes remains a challenge in the realistic applications. Herein, three-dimensional free-standing films based on Ni wires core/foamed NiO shell (Ni@NiO) are successfully fabricated as stable hosts for lithium metal anodes. The as-designed unique structures can effectively alleviate the large volume expansion and suppress lithium dendritic growth during the charge/discharge reaction, which can improve the service life of lithium metal batteries. The symmetric batteries of as-prepared Li-Ni@NiO-400 anodes deliver superior electrochemical performance, retaining a flat and stable voltage profiles with 13 mV for 2020 h at a current density of 1.0 mA cm−2. Simultaneously, the as-assembled LiFePO4/Li-Ni@NiO-400 full cells exhibit superior rate capability (~104.4 mAhg−1 at 10C) and 93.8% retention capacity after 500 cycles at the rate of 1C (0.012% decay per cycle). Above all, the unique 3D structure with as-designed free-standing films based on Ni wires core/foamed NiO shell structure and its design strategy hold a significant potential for the development of high energy-dense and stable metal batteries.