No Evidence of Benefits of Host Nano-Carbon Materials for Practical Lithium Anode-Free Cells

Nano-carbon-based materials are widely reported as lithium host materials in lithium metal batteries (LMBs); however, researchers report contradictory claims as to where the lithium plating occurs. Herein, the use of pure hollow core-carbon spheres coated on Cu (PHCCSs@Cu) to study the lithium deposition behavior with respect to this type of structure in lithium anode-free cells is described. It is demonstrated that the lithium showed some initial and limited intercalation into the PHCCSs and then plated on the external carbon walls and the top surface of the carbon coating during the charging process. The unfavorable deposition of lithium inside the PHCCSs is discussed from the viewpoint of lithium-ion transport and lithium nucleation. The application potential of PHCCSs and the data from these LMB studies are also discussed.

Automated summary

This study investigates the application of nano-carbon-based materials in lithium metal batteries and discusses the lithium deposition behavior and deposition location. It is demonstrated that lithium first intercalates into the hollow core of the carbon spheres and then plates on the external carbon walls and coating surface.