Robust\nLithium Metal Anodes Realized by Lithiophilic 3D Porous Current Collectors\nfor Constructing High-Energy Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur\n(Li–S) batteries are attractive candidates for next-generation\nrechargeable batteries. With the steady development of sulfur cathodes,\nthe recent revival of research on dendrite-free Li metal anodes offers\nopportunities to improve the stabilities and safety of Li–S\nbatteries. However, the low capacities and low Li utilizations of\ncurrent Li anodes hinder the improvement of the energy densities of\nLi–S batteries. Here, we present a facile approach to fabricate\nlithiophilic three-dimensional porous current collectors by modifying\ncommercial metal foams with yolk–shell structured N-doped porous\ncarbon nanosheets. Benefiting from the structure-based rational design,\nthis current collector is able to generate dendrite-free Li anodes\nwith improved Coulombic efficiencies and life spans, enabling carbon/sulfur\ncathodes to exhibit significantly enhanced stabilities (<i>e</i>.<i>g</i>., 78.1% of capacity retention after 1400 cycles).\nMore importantly, we successfully constructed a high-areal-capacity\nLi–S full cell (9.84 mAh cm^–2) with 82% Li\nutilization. This work provides a promising route toward high-energy-density\nLi–S batteries.