In Situ Synthesis of a Lithiophilic Ag-Nanoparticles-Decorated\n3D Porous Carbon Framework toward Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes

Abstract

Three-dimensional\n(3D) porous N-doped carbon nanoflake structures\ndecorated with in situ formed Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NCNS) have been\nsynthesized for the first time by a feasible salt-assisted polymer\nblowing-up method. The 3D porous carbon materials can be an effective\nlithium host for the application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs)\nin addressing the challenging issues of the growth of lithium dendrites\nand the uncontrollable formation of a solid electrolyte interphase\n(SEI). The 3D hosts can effectively restrain the growth of Li dendrites\nby trapping metallic Li in the matrix as well as decreasing local\ncurrent. Ag nanoparticles act as heterogeneous nucleation sites because\nof the low nucleation overpotential, and therefore, spatial control\nof Li metal is realized. The as-fabricated Ag-NCNS electrode presents\na dendrite-free plating morphology and long-term cycling stability\nwith the Coulombic efficiency maintained at more than 98% for 200\ncycles at 0.5 mA cm^–2 with a cycling capacity of\n1.0 mA h cm^–2. In symmetric cells, the Ag-NCNS/Li\nelectrode exhibits much lower voltage hysteresis and stable cycling\nperformance for more than 2000 h.