Graphene-based one-dimensional macroscopic assemblies (GBOMAs) have emerged as promising candidates in advanced energy storage systems due to their exceptional structural and functional attributes. Inspired by the natural scallion stem’s vertical coiled architecture, a novel design strategy was developed to enhance ion transport and lithium deposition dynamics in lithium metal batteries. The resulting scallion-like graphene microrods exhibit hierarchical porous structures with aligned axial channels, enabling efficient electrolyte infiltration and rapid Li⁺ diffusion. These unique morphological features are crucial for mitigating dendrite formation and volume expansion during charge-discharge cycles.
The fabrication process begins with wet-spinning of graphene oxide (GO) liquid crystals into gel fibers, followed by partial reduction via hydrothermal treatment to improve structural integrity and reduce interfacial adhesion. Subsequent solvent exchange using acetone effectively prevents fiber fusion during drying, yielding independent, free-standing RGO microrods.Estrone In Vivo After annealing at 1000 °C, these microrods display uniform morphology and high conductivity. Molten lithium is then infused into the RGO microrods through a simple dip-coating method, driven by capillary forces within the multiscale pores. Real-time optical microscopy confirms the axial propagation of molten lithium, leading to fully infiltrated silvery-white RGO/Li microrod powders.
To further enhance nucleation control, trace amounts of silver nanowires (Ag NWs) are introduced as heterogeneous seeds. This modification significantly reduces the nucleation overpotential, promoting spatially confined lithium plating inside the microrods. Symmetric cells based on RGO/Ag-Li anodes demonstrate an ultralow voltage hysteresis of merely 11.3 mV at 1 mA cm⁻² over 1800 hours in carbonate electrolytes—outperforming most previously reported lithium metal anodes. In contrast, bare Li foils suffer from internal short circuits within 400 hours, highlighting the critical role of the scaffold in stabilizing electrode interfaces.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the RGO/Ag-Li interface exhibits lower resistance (15 Ω after 10 cycles) compared to Li foil (91 Ω), indicating superior charge transfer kinetics and a more stable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). XPS and EIS analyses confirm a higher concentration of lithium fluoride (LiF) in the SEI layer, which enhances ionic conductivity and mechanical stability. Additionally, the Coulombic efficiency reaches 98.0% over 200 cycles, underscoring minimal side reactions and excellent reversibility.
This strategy extends beyond anodes. By applying the same scallion-like RGO microrod scaffold to cathode materials, high-loading RGO/LiFePO₄ composites were fabricated with up to 86 wt% active material content. These electrodes deliver remarkable rate performance—136 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C after 500 cycles and 86 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 C—while maintaining structural integrity.BMPR2 Antibody Formula Full cells assembled with RGO/Ag-Li anodes and RGO/LiFePO₄ cathodes achieve a specific capacity of 67 mAh g⁻¹ and a negligible capacity decay of only 0.PMID:35123596 013% per cycle over 2000 cycles at 5 C.
These results establish a new paradigm for designing high-performance lithium metal batteries by leveraging the intrinsic advantages of GBOMAs—particularly their mesoscale scallion-like structure. This approach not only enables ultra-stable lithium deposition but also facilitates scalable integration of high-capacity cathodes. The work opens transformative avenues for next-generation energy storage devices where both rate capability and long-term cycling stability are paramount.MedChemExpress (MCE) offers a wide range of high-quality research chemicals and biochemicals (novel life-science reagents, reference compounds and natural compounds) for scientific use. We have professionally experienced and friendly staff to meet your needs. We are a competent and trustworthy partner for your research and scientific projects.Related websites: https://www.medchemexpress.com