Versatile multi-lithiophilic metal oxide nano seeds embedded in hollow carbon nanospheres via electrostatically functional template for dendrite-free lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal anodes, which are promising candidates for anode materials in Li-ion batteries, are highly regarded for their combination of high energy density and low electrochemical potential, making them a compelling option for next-generation anodes. However, the growth of dendritic Li during the charging and discharging processes, along with the resulting decrease in stability and efficiency, poses a significant obstacle to the commercialization of Li metal anodes. To address the challenges associated with Li metal anodes, we propose the use of hollow carbon incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) as anode materials. ZnO has high lithiophilicity, enabling selective reactions with Li ions, and MgO exhibits a low nucleation overpotential. By placing these two substances inside the hollow carbon structure, stable Li growth can occur within the hollow carbon, enabling the formation of a reliable Li metal anode. Furthermore, to simplify and precisely synthesize the proposed structure, polystyrene-b-polyacrylic acid was introduced. Metals such as Zn and Mg can be uniformly attached to the hollow carbon through the carboxylic group of acrylic acid. The synthesized structure exhibited significantly improved Li storage performance compared to that of hollow carbon. It demonstrated superior metrics, achieving a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% over 350 cycles. The introduction of Zn and Mg with distinct properties effectively enhanced the internal storage performance of Li in hollow carbon.