Ultralight, dual-conductive, all-fiber based 3D anode current collector for anode-free lithium metal battery

• Published in: Carbon (New York) 2024-09, Vol.228, p.119424, Article 119424
• Main Authors: Zhong, Geng, Ma, Jiabin, Li, Nanrui, Yin, Rui, Jia, Tianqi, Cai, Kangning, Kang, Feiyu, Cao, Yidan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anode current collector; Anode-free lithium metal battery; Cellulose nanofiber; Dual-conductive; Li deposition
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119424

The anode-free Li metal batteries (AFLMBs), by pairing Li-containing cathode with bare anode current collector (CC), have the potential to enable the maximum improvement (>70 %) in energy density of lithium batteries. Here, we report an ultralight, dual-conductive all-fiber based Cu–CNF-CNT as anode CC, which takes advantage of the high electronic conductivity of carbon nanotube (CNT), good ionic conductivity of copper-coordinated cellulose nanofiber (Cu–CNF), and the three-dimensional porous structure by nanofibers. The interactions between CNTs and Cu-CNFs enables good mechanical strength (4.71 MPa), high electrical conductivity (31.7 S/cm), low density (1.1 g/cm3) and good wettability with electrolyte. The 3D microstructure effectively homogenizes the Li+ flux and buffers the volume changes during cycling, leading to stable Li plating/stripping. As a result, AFLMB using Cu–CNF-CNT exhibits improved capacity retention by 33 % compared to that using Cu CC. The significantly elevated energy-density shows great application potential of the Cu–CNF-CNT in AFLMBs. [Display omitted] •An ultralight all-fiber based anode current collector Cu–CNF-CNT is developed.•Copper-coordinated cellulose nanofiber (Cu–CNF) ensures good ionic conductivity.•Carbon nanotube (CNT) ensures high electronic conductivity.•The Cu–CNF-CNT induces uniform Li plating/stripping.•The Cu–CNF-CNT is successfully applied in anode-free lithium battery.