Graphene-Based Lithium/Sodium Metal Anodes

Owing to the high theoretical capacities and low redox potentials, metallic lithium (Li) and sodium (Na) have attracted extensive attention as promising anodes for high energy density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), respectively. However, their practical applications have been hampered by poor cycling stability, low Coulombic efficiency, and even serious safety concerns arising from uncontrolled dendrite formation and unstable solid-electrolyte interface (SEI). Encouragingly, graphene-based materials have recently emerged as an effective strategy to address these challenges. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress in the development of graphene-based Li/Na metal anodes. The basic properties of graphene-based materials and hybrid structures are discussed, and their application for Li/Na anodes is also introduced. These graphene-based composites offer unique properties such as enhanced lithiophilicity/sodiophilicity of the scaffold, improved surface kinetics, mechanical strength, and stability, thereby resulting in uniform Li/Na deposition with nearly dendrite-free morphology. Finally, we highlight the development of graphene-based composites in revolutionizing Li and Na metal anodes for high-performance energy storage solutions.