Prestoring lithium into SnO2 coated 3D carbon fiber cloth framework as dendrite-free lithium metal anode

Abstract

For several decades, the promise of implementing of lithium (Li) metal anodes has been regarded as the ‘‘holy grail’’ for Li-based batteries. Herein, we have proposed a facile design of a carbon fiber cloth (CFC) framework coated with SnO2 nanoparticles through a hydrothermal process, which served as a reliable host for prestoring molten Li to produce a CFC@SnO2@Li composite anode. XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS and different electrochemical characterizations were carried out. Owing to the synergetic effects of the 3D conductive CFC and the coated lithiophilic SnO2 nanoparticles, the designed CFC@SnO2@Li electrodes can buffer the volume changes and reduce the local current density, thus suppress the Li dendrites during cycling. Consequently, the CFC@SnO2 electrodes showed a high and stable CE of 98.6% for 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 (1 mAh cm−2). What is more, at a high current density of 5 mA cm−2 and a high areal capacity of 5 mAh cm−2, the symmetric cell displayed relatively low overpotential and long cycling lifetime of 1600 h. The results confirm its great potential as lithium metal anodes in practical battery applications.