The second-level modification technology to commercial copper metal for stable lithium-metal batteries

Lithium (Li) metal is considered a highly prospective anode material for Li-ion batteries on account of its low redox potential and the specific capacity in theory. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites poses a major obstacle to the lifetime and coulombic efficiency (CE) of Li-metal batteries, which is currently a critical issue hindering its wide application. Herein a two-step solution oxidation-reductions modification technology is developed to in-suit construct nanowire structures on the surface of commercial copper foam (CF). More importantly, this technology can reduce the previously required processing time of several hours to tens of hours down to the order of seconds. Furthermore, the CF with fine nanowire (CFNW) serves as highly efficient current collector for the anode in Li-metal batteries, effectively accommodating deposited Li and inhibiting dendrite formation. Consequently, the prepared CFNW current collector demonstrates a significantly enhanced cycling stability, achieving high coulombic efficiency (maintaining 98 % following 620 cycles with a current density of 1 mA cm −2 ), surpassing the performance of the CF current collector (98 % after 270 cycles at the same current density). Notably, the full cell incorporating LiFePO 4 as the cathode demonstrates enhanced cycling stability, maintaining 80 % of its initial capacity retention rate following 290 cycles under a rate of 1C. This work proposes highly convenient and rapid, commercially viable modification technology to commercial copper for a high-performance three-dimensional current collector of Li metal anodes.