Authors: Yuxuan Wang, Yuhao Li, Xiaohan Wang, Yong Gao, Chenhao Li, Ting Meng, Haifeng Zhang, Pei Song Chee, Salah A. Makhlouf, Cao Guan
Published: 2025-03-12
Source: Full article
AbstractAnode‐free lithium metal batteries are promising toward high‐energy‐density power sources with low‐cost, but their practical applications are challenged by poor cycling stability and low rate capability. Herein, a shape change‐free and lithium‐free anode that well controls the reversible Li plating‐stripping is reported, which is composed of a highly‐ordered hollow ZnO matrix with a surface‐coated lithium‐phosphorus‐oxynitride (LiPON) layer. The ZnO matrix supplies sufficient cavities and lithiophilic sites to facilitate uniform Li plating/stripping within the hollow cavity, while the LiPON layer maintains stable solid‐electrolyte interphase from mechanical and electrochemical damage. As a result, lithium is constrained within the cavity and the overall anode shape is effectively controlled during long‐term and high‐rate cycling. The assembled half‐cell stably works at 1.2 mA cm−2 for 335 cycles with Coulombic efficiency of 98.8%. Without Li pre‐deposition, full‐cells using modified‐LiFePO4 and LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathodes demonstrate 150‐cycles lifespan and high energy density of 617 Wh kg−1 at 2C rate.