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Stable Li Metal Anode Enabled by Space Confinement and Uniform Curvature through Lithiophilic Nanotube Arrays
Author(s) -
Tantratian Karnpiwat,
Cao Daxian,
Abdelaziz Ahmed,
Sun Xiao,
Sheng Jinzhi,
Natan Avi,
Chen Lei,
Zhu Hongli
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201902819
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , nanotube , dendrite (mathematics) , faraday efficiency , metal , nanotechnology , lithium (medication) , curvature , lithium metal , diffusion , chemical engineering , electrode , carbon nanotube , metallurgy , medicine , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , physics , engineering , endocrinology , thermodynamics
The application of lithium (Li) metal anodes in rechargeable batteries is primarily restricted by Li dendrite growth on the metal's surface, which leads to shortened cycle life and safety concerns. Herein, well‐spaced nanotubes with ultrauniform surface curvature are introduced as a Li metal anode structure. The ultrauniform nanotubular surface generates uniform local electric fields that evenly attract Li‐ions to the surface, thereby inducing even current density distribution. Moreover, the well‐defined nanotube spacing offers Li diffusion pathways to the electroactive areas as well as the confined spaces to host deposited Li. These structural attributes create a unique electrodeposition manner; i.e., Li metal homogenously deposits on the nanotubular wall, causing each Li nanotube to grow in circumference without obvious sign of dendritic formation. Thus, the full‐cell battery with the spaced Li nanotubes exhibits a high specific capacity of 132 mA h g −1 at 1 C and an excellent coulombic efficiency of ≈99.85% over 400 cycles.