A lithiophilic MnO@biomass-derived carbon nanofiber host for stable lithium-metal batteries

High-energy-density lithium (Li) metal batteries are a promising next-generation energy storage system but suffer from uneven Li deposition, anode material volumetric expansion, and the formation of “dead lithium”. To address these challenges, a three-dimensional (3D) lithiophilic manganese oxide@biomass-derived carbon nanofiber (MnO@BDCNF) host was prepared using waste cow leather as the precursor. The 3D lithiophilic MnO@BDCNF is capable of reducing local current density and suppressing the growth of lithium dendrites. As a consequence, the MnO@BDCNF host displays small overpotentials, stable polarization profiles, and high Coulombic efficiencies under various current densities and deposition capacities. When lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is used as the cathode, the assembled Li/MnO@BDCNF||LiFePO4 full cells deliver remarkable cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 99.5% for 120 cycles. This work provides a viable approach for converting solid waste into a high-value-added host for lithium metal anodes.