Co3O4 nanosheet decorated nickel foams as advanced lithium host skeletons for dendrite-free lithium metal anode

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have been regarded as the most promising battery system for the next-generation high energy density batteries due to the extremely high specific capacity of the lithium (Li) metal anode. Unfortunately, the commercial application has been hindered by sharp dendrite Li growth and infinite relative volume change during the repeated charge/discharge process, which lead to severe safety issues and poor cyclability of the battery. Herein, a novel composite Lithium anode is fabricated via thermally infusion molten Li into three-dimensional (3D) nickel foam (NF) framework decorated by lithiophilic Co3O4 nanosheet arrays. The universalized growth of Co3O4 nanosheet on the Ni foam can provide superior wettability between the molten Li and Ni foam, and facilitate more convenient infusion process (5 s). Benefitting from uniform distribution of Li in the 3D host and homogeneous Li+ flux on the surface of the electrode, excellent Li stripping/plating performance (1000 h at 3 mA cm−2 and 275 h at 5 mA cm−2) and dendrite-suppressed morphology are achieved for the Li–Co3O4/NF composite anode. When utilized in full cells paired with a LiFePO4 cathode, the Li–Co3O4/NF composite anode demonstrates greater cyclability and rate performance than bare Li anode. As a result, the obtained Co3O4/NF demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance as a lithium host skeleton for advanced Li metal battery. [Display omitted] •The Co3O4 nanosheet coated on the Ni foam greatly improves the lithiophilicity of the Ni foam framework and enables faster Li-infusion process of less than 5s.•This Li–Co3O4/NF composite anode displays excellent electrochemical performance in symmetrical cell and exhibits a much stable overpotential, and maintains flat voltage profiles over 1000 h at a current density of 3 mA cm−2.•This Li–Co3O4/NF composite anode shows dendrite-free morphology when cycled after 540 cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm−2.•This Li–Co3O4/NF anodes display superior rate performance and cycling stability with 90% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 2C.