Synergistic effect of modest pores and lithiophilic surface on 3D current collectors for stable Li metal anodes

Abstract

The increasing demand for high energy density battery systems has accelerated the development of lithium metal batteries, and it is imperative to seek strategies for alleviating the large volume change and inhibiting dendrite growth of the Li metal anode. 3D porous anode current collectors cooperated with surface modification have been considered as effective methods. Herein, we develop 3D porous Cu with modest pores by powder metallurgy method, combined with surface modification by lithiophilic Ag nanoparticles. The obtained ingenious porous structure ensures the reduction of local current density when served as the Li anode current collector, while the Ag nanoparticle layer provides numerous lithiophilic nucleation sites. Smooth and uniform Li plating morphologies are confirmed on the PM Cu@AgNP electrode surface, and the PM Cu@AgNP-Li symmetric cell presents a stable cycle of 1600 h, which effectively inhibits the Li dendrite growth. When coupled with the LiFePO 4 cathode, the assembled full cell exhibits superb capacity retention and stability for 600 cycles at 0.5 C. This facile and rational strategy with synergistic effect of modest pores and surface lithiophilicity provides a way to achieve highly stable Li metal anodes for next-generation Li batteries. • Powder metallurgy method is introduced to prepare the Li metal anode current collector. • Synergistic effect of the structure and lithiophilicity makes stable Li anode. • An average pore size of 21.2 µm is modest for the porous current collector. • Surface Ag nanoparticles significantly reduce Li nucleation overpotential.