Regulating Lithium Plating and Stripping by Using Vertically Aligned Graphene/CNT Channels Decorated with ZnO Particles

Abstract

Lithium (Li) metal is regarded as the ultimate anode material for use in Li batteries due to its high theoretical capacity (3860 mA h g À 1 ). However, the Li dendrites that are generated during iterative Li plating/stripping cycles cause poor cycling stability and even present safety risks, and thus severely handicap the commercial utility of Li metal anodes. Herein, we describe a graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT)based Li host material that features vertically aligned channels with attached ZnO particles (

Carbon‐Based Materials as Lithium Hosts for Lithium Batteries

“…Several approaches have been proposed to suppress the formation of Li dendrites, including the creation of SEI layers on the surface of the Li anode, [13] replacement of traditional liquidstate electrolytes with solid-state electrolytes, [14] the use of a Li metal alloy as the anode, [15] and use of three-dimensional (3D) frameworks as Li hosts. [16] SEI layers with relatively high mechanical strength can suppress the formation of Li dendrites by creating uniform nucleation sites for Li metal deposition. [13] The solid-state electrolytes that are inert to the anode physically separate the anode from the cathode.…”

“…[30] As a representative example, Geng et al recently prepared a RGO-based composite that features vertically aligned channels from an aqueous suspension of GO and CNTs via an icetemplate method and demonstrated that Li metal can be uniformly deposited in the channels of the material. [16] Figure 3a summarizes the preparation procedure. An aqueous suspension that contained GO, oxidized CNTs, and Zn(OAc) 2 was frozen from the bottom of the container to induce the vertical growth of ice.…”

“…As such, orientated pores can be obtained after the ice is removed by freeze drying. In addition to the aforementioned example, [16] Yu et al recently reported a polymer matrix with vertical channels that was prepared from a composite hydrosol containing chitosan, GO, and resol via ice-induced self-assembly and thermocuring. [32] A porous carbon that features vertical channels was obtained by carbonizing the materials under argon and was found to exhibit high performance when used for Li storage.…”

“…As a representative example, Geng et al. recently prepared a RGO‐based composite that features vertically aligned channels from an aqueous suspension of GO and CNTs via an ice‐template method and demonstrated that Li metal can be uniformly deposited in the channels of the material [16] . Figure 3a summarizes the preparation procedure.…”

“…As such, orientated pores can be obtained after the ice is removed by freeze drying. In addition to the aforementioned example, [16] Yu et al. recently reported a polymer matrix with vertical channels that was prepared from a composite hydrosol containing chitosan, GO, and resol via ice‐induced self‐assembly and thermocuring [32] .…”