Lithiophilic Cu-Ag architectures with Li-Si alloys for stable lithium metal batteries

Siyu Fang; Tiansheng Bai; Jialin Liao; Shuai Zhang; Jiaxian Wang; Funian Mo; Wei Zhai; Zhenglin Hu; Jingyu Lu; Kwun Nam Hui; Lijie Ci; Deping Li

doi:10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541

Lithiophilic Cu-Ag architectures with Li-Si alloys for stable lithium metal batteries

Siyu Fang, Tiansheng Bai, Jialin Liao, Shuai Zhang, Jiaxian Wang, Funian Mo^*, Wei Zhai, Zhenglin Hu, Jingyu Lu^*, Kwun Nam Hui, Lijie Ci^*, Deping Li^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Lithium metal anodes hold the potential for high-energy-density batteries due to their substantial theoretical capacity, but their practical application is hindered by issues such as dendrite growth, poor cycling stability, and safety concerns. This study presents the development of a three-dimensional Li-Si composite alloy anode (Ag@Cu@Li-Si), combining a porous copper scaffold with a lithiophilic silver (Ag) layer and a lithium-silicon (Li-Si) alloy. The Ag@Cu@Li-Si composite demonstrates significant improvements in dendrite suppression, cycling stability, and electrochemical performance. The composite anode exhibits a critical current density of 15 mA cm⁻² and over 900 hours of stable operation at 1.0 mA cm⁻² in symmetric cells. When integrated into a full cell with a commercial LiFePO₄ cathode, it maintains excellent cycling stability, delivering over 600 cycles with a rate capability of 1.0 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of lithium metal anodes, highlighting the importance of lithiophilic materials and 3D frameworks for high-performance lithium-metal batteries. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	104541
Journal	Energy Storage Materials
Volume	81
Online published	19 Aug 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52002094 , 22309036 , 22479037 ), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No. 2025A1515011995 ), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program (Grant No. GXWD20221030205923001 ), State Key Laboratory of Precision Welding & Joining of Materials and Structures ( 24-Z-17, 24-T-08 )

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

3D host
Ag decoration
Li-Si alloy
Lithium metal batteries
Molten lithium infusion

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10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541

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title = "Lithiophilic Cu-Ag architectures with Li-Si alloys for stable lithium metal batteries",

abstract = "Lithium metal anodes hold the potential for high-energy-density batteries due to their substantial theoretical capacity, but their practical application is hindered by issues such as dendrite growth, poor cycling stability, and safety concerns. This study presents the development of a three-dimensional Li-Si composite alloy anode (Ag@Cu@Li-Si), combining a porous copper scaffold with a lithiophilic silver (Ag) layer and a lithium-silicon (Li-Si) alloy. The Ag@Cu@Li-Si composite demonstrates significant improvements in dendrite suppression, cycling stability, and electrochemical performance. The composite anode exhibits a critical current density of 15 mA cm−2 and over 900 hours of stable operation at 1.0 mA cm−2 in symmetric cells. When integrated into a full cell with a commercial LiFePO4 cathode, it maintains excellent cycling stability, delivering over 600 cycles with a rate capability of 1.0 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of lithium metal anodes, highlighting the importance of lithiophilic materials and 3D frameworks for high-performance lithium-metal batteries. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "3D host, Ag decoration, Li-Si alloy, Lithium metal batteries, Molten lithium infusion",

author = "Siyu Fang and Tiansheng Bai and Jialin Liao and Shuai Zhang and Jiaxian Wang and Funian Mo and Wei Zhai and Zhenglin Hu and Jingyu Lu and Hui, {Kwun Nam} and Lijie Ci and Deping Li",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541",

language = "English",

volume = "81",

journal = "Energy Storage Materials",

issn = "2405-8297",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lithiophilic Cu-Ag architectures with Li-Si alloys for stable lithium metal batteries

AU - Fang, Siyu

AU - Bai, Tiansheng

AU - Liao, Jialin

AU - Zhang, Shuai

AU - Wang, Jiaxian

AU - Mo, Funian

AU - Zhai, Wei

AU - Hu, Zhenglin

AU - Lu, Jingyu

AU - Hui, Kwun Nam

AU - Ci, Lijie

AU - Li, Deping

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Lithium metal anodes hold the potential for high-energy-density batteries due to their substantial theoretical capacity, but their practical application is hindered by issues such as dendrite growth, poor cycling stability, and safety concerns. This study presents the development of a three-dimensional Li-Si composite alloy anode (Ag@Cu@Li-Si), combining a porous copper scaffold with a lithiophilic silver (Ag) layer and a lithium-silicon (Li-Si) alloy. The Ag@Cu@Li-Si composite demonstrates significant improvements in dendrite suppression, cycling stability, and electrochemical performance. The composite anode exhibits a critical current density of 15 mA cm−2 and over 900 hours of stable operation at 1.0 mA cm−2 in symmetric cells. When integrated into a full cell with a commercial LiFePO4 cathode, it maintains excellent cycling stability, delivering over 600 cycles with a rate capability of 1.0 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of lithium metal anodes, highlighting the importance of lithiophilic materials and 3D frameworks for high-performance lithium-metal batteries. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

AB - Lithium metal anodes hold the potential for high-energy-density batteries due to their substantial theoretical capacity, but their practical application is hindered by issues such as dendrite growth, poor cycling stability, and safety concerns. This study presents the development of a three-dimensional Li-Si composite alloy anode (Ag@Cu@Li-Si), combining a porous copper scaffold with a lithiophilic silver (Ag) layer and a lithium-silicon (Li-Si) alloy. The Ag@Cu@Li-Si composite demonstrates significant improvements in dendrite suppression, cycling stability, and electrochemical performance. The composite anode exhibits a critical current density of 15 mA cm−2 and over 900 hours of stable operation at 1.0 mA cm−2 in symmetric cells. When integrated into a full cell with a commercial LiFePO4 cathode, it maintains excellent cycling stability, delivering over 600 cycles with a rate capability of 1.0 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of lithium metal anodes, highlighting the importance of lithiophilic materials and 3D frameworks for high-performance lithium-metal batteries. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

KW - 3D host

KW - Ag decoration

KW - Li-Si alloy

KW - Lithium metal batteries

KW - Molten lithium infusion

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U2 - 10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541

DO - 10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104541

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2405-8297

VL - 81

JO - Energy Storage Materials

JF - Energy Storage Materials

M1 - 104541

ER -

Lithiophilic Cu-Ag architectures with Li-Si alloys for stable lithium metal batteries

Abstract

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UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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