Structural Engineering of Hierarchical Micro-nanostructured Ge-C Framework by Controlling the Nucleation for Ultralong-Life Li Storage

The rational design of a proper electrode structure with high energy and power densities, long cycling lifespan, and low cost still remains a significant challenge for developing advanced energy storage systems. Germanium is a highly promising anode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries due to its large specific capacity and remarkable rate capability. Nevertheless, poor cycling stability and high price significantly limit its practical application. Herein, a facile and scalable structural engineering strategy is proposed by controlling the nucleation to fabricate a unique hierarchical micro-nanostructured Ge-C framework, featuring high tap density, reduced Ge content, superb structural stability, and a 3D conductive network. The constructed architecture has demonstrated outstanding reversible capacity of 1541.1 mA h g(-1) after 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g(-1) (with 99.6% capacity retention), markedly exceeding all the reported Ge-C electrodes regarding long cycling stability. Notably, the assembled full cell exhibits superior performance as well. The work paves the way to constructing novel metal-carbon materials with high performance and low cost for energy-related applications.