Electron-rich functional doping carbon host as dendrite-free lithium metal anode

The Li metal anode has been regarded as the ultimate anode because of high theoretical capacity and low potential. Unfortunately, dendrite growth and safety issues impede its practical applications. Herein, we report a series of electron-rich functional groups, such as nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus, doped Ketjen Black (ECP) as a lithium deposition/dissolution host. The electron-rich functional groups can effectively improve the wettability and lithiophility of the carbon host, which is benefit to induce homogeneous lithium deposition in the Ketjen Black (ECP), rendering significant inhibition of dendrite growth and effective improvement of electrochemical stability. Under the roles of these factors, the nitrogen doped Ketjen Black (ECP) electrode achieves a high Coulombic efficiency of 97.8% over 300 cycles at 1.0 mA cm−2, while the pristine ECP electrode only maintains 110 cycles. What's more the O-doped ECP and P-ECP electrode also keeps longer cycles than the pristine ECP electrode.