Recent advances in the surface modification strategies towards 3D carbon-based hosts for dendrite-free Li/Na/Zn metal anodes

Rechargeable Li/Na/Zn metal batteries are promising next-generation energy-storage systems owing to their high energy density. However, the inhomogeneous deposition behavior, severe dendrite growth and drastic volume variation hinder the practical applications of Li/Na/Zn metal anodes. Three-dimensional (3D) carbon-based substrates have received extensive attention in view of their low cost, high electronic conductivity, and adjustable physicochemical characteristic. Moreover, their interconnected network architecture can accommodate the enormous internal stress fluctuation, homogenize electric field distribution, and mitigate Li/Na/Zn dendrite growth. Herein, we review the recent advances in 3D carbon-based hosts employing surface modification strategies to accomplish spatially confined deposition behavior of metallic Li/Na/Zn. Firstly, self-templated synthesis and hard-templating synthesis for manufacturing the 3D carbon-based scaffolds are briefly presented. Subsequently, we investigate several typical surface modification strategies, including heteroatom doping, surface functionalization, decoration of nucleation sites, and skeleton gradient design of metallophilicity and electronic conductivity. Finally, the future perspectives on several research orientations for the commercial application of 3D carbon-based hosts as metal anodes are emphasized.