3D-Printed Porous GO Framework Enabling Dendrite-Free Lithium- Metal Anodes

Although lithium-metal anode is regarded as the most promising candidate for high-energy-density batteries, the uncontrollable Li dendrite growth and large volumetric change have severely inhibited its practical application. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed graphene oxide framework was constructed as a lithium-metal host to modulate the plating behavior of Li+ on the interfaces. Owing to the specially designed architecture, the 3D printed GO framework can effectively reduce the local current density and supply large space for the accommodation of Li to buffer the volume change. As a result, the 3D-GO@Li anode enables a dendrite-free Li plating/stripping with a small overpotential of 9 mV and a long-term cycling stability of 1600 h at 1 mA cm-2. Moreover, the stable 3D-GO@Li anode is further corroborated via a full battery with a LiFePO4 cathode with a superior long cycle lifespan and capacity retention in comparison to the pristine Li anode. This work would pave a promising way for 3D printing technology to construct high-energy-density energy storage devices.

Automated summary

This study constructs a three-dimensional printed graphene oxide framework as a host for lithium-metal to solve the issues of lithium dendrite growth and volumetric change. This framework reduces local current density and provides space to buffer volume change, enabling dendrite-free lithium plating/stripping with good stability and capacity retention in long-term cycling.