Dense cuprous oxide sheath decorated three-dimensional copper foam enabling stable lithium metal anodes

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 11; no. 46; pp. 25455 - 25464
• Main Authors: Liu, Chengcai, Wu, Borong, Zhang, Yuanxing, Liu, Tao, Cui, Jingwen, Huang, Lingjun, Tan, Guoqiang, Zhang, Ling, Su, Yuefeng, Wu, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 28.11.2023
• Subjects: Coatings; Copper; Copper oxides; Dendrites; Deposition; Dimensionally stable anodes; Electrochemistry; Ferric chloride; Hydrothermal reactions; Lithium; Lithium batteries; Metal foams; Nucleation; Oxidants; Oxide coatings; Oxidizing agents; Particulate composites; Sheaths; Thickness; Three dimensional composites
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d3ta04259f

Uneven lithium deposition causing the growth of lithium dendrites is a major obstacle to the practical application of high-energy lithium metal batteries. In this study, a simple hydrothermal reaction is adopted to evenly coat copper foam (CF) with cuprous oxide particles. The resulting three-dimensional composite current collector can achieve dendrite-free lithium plating. Control experiments show that FeF 3 is a better oxidant than FeCl 3 for creating a more uniform and dense cuprous oxide coating on the CF. It is also found that the reaction temperature plays a crucial role in determining the thickness of the coating layer. Furthermore, the electrochemical experimental results confirm that a dense and uniform coating layer with an appropriate thickness is essential in achieving high coulombic efficiency (CE) for CF current collectors. The CF with the optimal coating exhibits only a small nucleation overvoltage (15 mV) and high CE (98% retention after 120 cycles) at a current density of 1.0 mA cm −2 and a Li deposition of 1.0 mA h cm −2 in an ether electrolyte without lithium nitrate. A 3D composite collector comprising lithiophilic Cu 2 O coated CF was synthesized using a simple, one-step hydrothermal synthesis. A dense and uniform coating layer with an appropriate thickness is essential for achieving smooth lithium deposition.