Phosphorized 3D Current Collector for High-Energy Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

The anode-free lithium metal battery (AF-LMB) demonstrates the emerging battery chemistry, exhibiting higher energy density than the existing lithium-ion battery and conventional LMB empirically. A systematic step-by-step while bottom-up calculation system is first developed to quantitatively depict the energy gap from theory to practice. The attainable high energy of AF-LMB necessitates a homogeneous Li⁺ flux on the anode side to achieve an improved Li reversibility against inventory loss. On such basis, a lithiophilic Cu₃P-decorated 3D copper foil to promote dendrite-free lithium deposition is further reported. The phosphorized surface of high affinity toward Li⁺ incorporating the nanostructure of abundant nucleation sites synergistically regulates the Li nucleation/growth behavior, extending the cycling lifespan of high-loading AF-LMBs. The processed foil featuring lightweight and ultrathin merits further increases the energy density, both gravimetrically and volumetrically. This study provides a novel scheme for simultaneously realizing the uniform deposition of lithium and increasing the energy density of future AF-LMBs.