A lithiophilic bimetallic oxide interlayer enabling high-rate and dendrite-free lithium metal anodes

Abstract

Lithium metal, distinguished by its low reduction potential and high theoretical capacity, is regarded as the optimal choice for the next generation of anode materials. However, the uneven deposition behavior of lithium metal anodes (LMAs) and their infinite volume change during repeated cycling significantly restrict their commercialization applications. Herein, a lithiophilic ZnCo₂O₄ nanowire-decorated three-dimensional conductive framework (ZCO@CP) was prepared by a simple hydrothermal annealing method and employed as a multifunctional interlayer for hyperstable LMAs. As a Li⁺ redistributor and lithiophilic host, the ZCO@CP interlayer can effectively reduce the nucleation barrier and enhance the rate of Li deposition. As a result, ZCO@CP-Li symmetric cells demonstrate superior long-term stability of Li plating/stripping over 1100 cycles at a high current density of 40 mA cm⁻² and a high areal capacity of 10 mA h cm⁻². Furthermore, ZCO@CP-Li//LFP full cells exhibit a high discharge capacity of 131.8 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 1 C, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. This work lays a foundation for the development of practical LMAs capable of operating at high current densities and large areal capacities.