3D printing dendrite-free lithium anodes based on the nucleated MXene arrays

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is becoming an attractive approach to construct various complex architectures for energy storage devices with customized configurations. Here, based on extrusion-type 3D printing, a dendrite-free lithium anode with a very low overpotential of ~10 mV, long cycle life upto 1200 h and high areal capacities is achieved. In the 3D printed anode, MXene arrays with large available interspaces not only enable to facilitate the nucleation of lithium and homogenize both lithium ion flux and electric field, efficiently inhibiting the growth of lithium dendrites, but also provide enough space to accommodate the growth of massive cobblestone-like lithium. Coupled with the 3D printed anode and a LiFePO4 cathode, a full cell exhibits high rate capabilities upto 30 C and a long cycle life (more than 300 cycles).