Lithiated Graphene Current Collector for Stable Anode‐Free and Anode‐Less Lithium Metal Batteries

• Published in: Batteries & supercaps 2024-09, Vol.7 (9), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Ping Zheng, Yi, Hu, Xun Jian, Xu, Xiao Ming, Wang, Hai Feng, Sun, Yu Long, Liu, Ting, Bin Liu, Xian, Wu, Zi Ping, Xia, Bao Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anode-free; Anode-less; Current collector; Li-metal batteries; Lithiated graphene
• ISSN: 2566-6223; 2566-6223
• DOI: 10.1002/batt.202400144

Anode‐free and anode‐less lithium (Li) metal batteries provide cell safety and afford maximum energy density. However, their practical applications are hampered by poor cycling performances. In this study, a composite of LiC6 phase in highly reduced graphene (HrGO, LC‐HrGO) is proposed as a current collector for Li metal plating. LC‐HrGO provided homogenous plating sites and favorable conductivity, which facilitated Li metal plating with reduced nucleation barrier. The LiC6 in composite is not easily delithiated, and the HrGO is not easily lithiated. The obtained anode‐free batteries based on the LC‐HrGO current collector showed a capacity retention of 60 % after 100 cycles, and the corresponding anode‐less batteries indicated a stable specific capacity of 134.5 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles and a remarkable rate capacity of 130.1 mA h g−1 at 5 C. The work provides valuable concepts for fabricating promising current collectors towards Li metal batteries and beyond for high‐level services. A composite of LiC6 in highly reduced graphene (LC‐HrGO) is proposed as current collector for Li metal plating, which provided homogenous plating sites and favorable conductivity, and thereby facilitated anode‐free and anode‐less lithium metal batteries with long lifespan.