High Specific Area Composite Carbon Cloth Induced Li Interior Growth for Stabilizing the Li Metal Anode

Uneven lithium deposition, which leads to the growth of lithium dendrites, presents a significant challenge in the practical application of high-energy lithium metal batteries. Herein, we report a high specific surface area carbon cloth (CC@ZnO) with uniform dispersion of nano zinc oxide as a collector for lithium metal battery (LMB). The uniformly dispersed zinc oxide in the CC@ZnO helps to achieve consistent lithium nucleation and growth with its lithophility. The high specific surface area of the CC@ZnO can promote the nucleation and growth of metallic lithium inside the current collector, greatly alleviating the adverse effects of the hostless nature of the metallic lithium anode. By utilizing this three-dimensional composite carbon cloth as a collector in lithium metal batteries, the Coulombic efficiency of lithium deposition and stripping is improved. The Li-Cu asymmetrical battery achieved a Coulombic efficiency of 97.6% after 120 cycles at 3 mA cm-2, with a deposition capacity of 3 mAh cm-2 in an ether electrolyte without the addition of lithium nitrate.