%0 Journal Article %A Ingber, Tjark T. K. %A Bela, Marlena M. %A Püttmann, Frederik %A Dohmann, Jan F. %A Bieker, Peter %A Börner, Markus %A Winter, Martin %A Stan, Marian %T Elucidating the lithium deposition behavior in open-porous copper micro-foam negative electrodes for zero-excess lithium metal batteries %J Journal of materials chemistry / A %V 11 %N 33 %@ 2050-7488 %C London [u.a.] %I RSC %M FZJ-2023-04231 %P 17828 - 17840 %D 2023 %Z Unterstützt durch BMBF Grants: MEET Hi-EnD III” (03XP0258A), “ProLiFest” (03XP0253A) und “AMaLiS” (03XP0125D) %X In zero-excess lithium metal batteries (ZELMBs), also termed “anode-free” LMBs, Li from the positive electrode is electrodeposited onto a bare current collector instead of the Li metal negative electrode commonly used in LMBs. This enables high theoretical energy density and facile, safe, and low-cost assembly. To tackle coulombic inefficiencies during Li deposition/dissolution, 3D structured current collectors can be used instead of 2D foil materials. This study elucidates the Li deposition behavior in custom-made open-porous Cu micro-foams from nucleation to large scale deposition. For the first time in ZELMBs, surface and sub-surface Li deposits in open-porous 3D materials are compared to deposits on 2D foils using cryogenic focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (cryo-FIB-SEM). The results highlight that Cu micro-foams can store substantial amounts of dendrite-free Li in their open-porous 3D structure, minimizing detrimental volume changes during Li deposition/dissolution. Electrochemical analyses and simulations reveal that current density distribution over the large surface area of the Cu micro-foams reduces the Li nucleation overvoltage by ≈40%. Also, charge/discharge cycling in ZELMBs shows increases in coulombic efficiency, capacity retention, and cycle life. Overall, this work explains how open-porous Cu micro-foam current collectors improve the Li deposition behavior to boost the cycling characteristics of ZELMBs. %F PUB:(DE-HGF)16 %9 Journal Article %U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001047520300001 %R 10.1039/D3TA04060G %U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1017615