Lithiophilic Cu-Ni core-shell nanowire network as a stable host for improving lithium anode performance

Lithium metal is long-term considered as a promising anode for high energy density lithium batteries. However, the practical application of lithium metal anode is hindered by the poor interfacial stability and lithium dendritic growth, which are originated from the relative infinite volume change of 'hostless' lithium metal anode. Here, we report a highly lithiophilic and stable Cu-Ni core-shell nanowires network host to accommodate the dramatic volume change of lithium and therefore improve the life-span of lithium metal anode. The Ni coating on the Cu nanowire endows the lithiophilic surface of the 3D network host facilitating the formation of the Li-Cu@Ni metallic nanocomposite anode via the facile infusion of molten lithium. The fabricated Li-Cu@Ni metallic anode shows superior electrochemical performance under galvanostatic cycling in the carbonate electrolyte, retaining flat voltage profiles over 500 cycles at a high current density of 3 mA cm(-2) with a low voltage polarization of 140 mV. Furthermore, the Li-Cu@Ni based full cell coupled with the LiCoO2 cathode exhibited good rate capability (similar to 90 mA h/g at 5C) and cycling stability at 5C for 250 cycles (0.015% decay per cycle).