Low-Weight 3D Al2O3 Network as an Artificial Layer to Stabilize Lithium Deposition

Lithium metal has been regarded as an ideal anode for high-energy-density batteries. However, safety and efficiency concerns still linger due to dendrite formation, reactions between the liquid electrolyte and lithium, high resistance with lithium metal, and the weight of interface layer. A new nanometer-thick, hollow, Al2O3 fiber network with an elastic and porous 3D structure has been prepared through an atomic-layer deposition process by using cotton sacrificial templates. Through a comparison study of the lithium deposition behavior by employing artificial layers with different structures, the low-weight 3D layer with lithiophilic properties overcomes the issues resulting from the 2D rigid Al2O3 layer and provides a low overpotential and dendrite-free growth of lithium metal. Moreover, stable lithium deposition enables Li-Li symmetric cells with a 3D artificial layer to be stably cycled 300 times in carbonate-based electrolyte, with superior rate capability, and with a LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode.