Three-Dimension Skeleton Supported Lithium Metal Composite Anodes through Thermal Infusing Strategy

Lithium metal is regarded as the most promising anode material for the next-generation lithium batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mAh/g) and lowest electrochemical potential (-3.04 V vs SHE). However, dendrite growth and volume changes in Li metal anodes during battery cycles hinder the industrialization of Li metal anodes severely. Recent research progress has shown that introducing 3D host in Li metal can not only suppress dendrite growth, but also relieve volume changes of Li anode, thus improving cycle performance and safety of lithium metal batteries. Therefore, designing 3D host/Li metal composite anodes is regarded as an emerging strategy that can solve the problem of Li metal anodes effectively. This review summaries the recent progress on 3D host/Li metal composite anodes prepared by thermal infusion strategy. We firstly discuss prelithiation methods of 3D host and analyze influencing factors of host lithiophilicity in thermal molten infusing. Afterwards, different 3D host framework and their features are discussed followed by the improved strategies. Finally, we summarize existing problems of 3D host/Li metal composite anodes and give their future prospects.