Stoichiometric Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)Coating for Inhibiting Dendrite Growth in Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal batteries(LMBs)and anode-free LMBs(AFLMBs)present a solution to the need for batteries with a significantly superior theoretical energy density.However,their adoption is hindered by low Coulombic efficiency(CE)and rapid capacity fading,primarily due to the formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)layer and Li dendrite growth as a result of uneven Li plating.Here,we report on the use of a stoichiometric Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)(S-Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x))MXene coating on the copper current collector to enhance the cyclic stability of an anode-free lithium metal battery.The S-Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)coating provides abundant nucleation sites,thereby lowering the overpotential for Li nucleation,and promoting uniform Li plating.Additionally,the fluorine(-F)termination of S-Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)participates in the SEI formation,producing a LiF-rich SEI layer,vital for stabilizing the SEI and improving cycle life.Batteries equipped with S-Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)@Cu current collectors displayed reduced Li consumption during stable SEI formation,resulting in a significant decrease in capacity loss.AFLMBs with S-Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)@Cu current collectors achieved a high initial capacity density of 4.2 mAh cm^(-2),70.9%capacity retention after 50 cycles,and an average CE of 98.19%in 100 cycles.This innovative application of MXenes in the energy field offers a promising strategy to enhance the performance of AFLMBs and could potentially accelerate their commercial adoption.