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

Abstract

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.