Nano‐ZnFe2O4 Facilitates Lithium Metal Anode Achieving High Stability.

Due to its remarkably low redox potential and high specific capacity, the lithium metal anode has long been regarded as the ultimate choice for anode in lithium‐ion cells. However, its practical application has been impeded by two major challenges: poor Coulomb efficiency and the inevitable formation of lithium dendrites during charging/discharging processes. In this study, we propose a method to address these issues by fabricating a protective layer for the lithium metal anode using a polyethylene separator that has been modified with a composite of zinc nanoferrite and porous carbon (referred to as ZnFe2O4@PE). By employing this approach, we aim to achieve enhanced stability during anode cycling. The ZnFe2O4@PE serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it effectively reduces the local current density, thereby mitigating the drastic volume changes that occur during charging and discharging. Additionally, the nano‐ZnFe2O4 possesses a favorable affinity for lithium ions, facilitating their homogeneous deposition and suppressing the growth of lithium dendrites. As a result, the lithium metal anodes coated with the ZnFe2O4@PE protective layer exhibit excellent cycling stability, maintaining stable performance for 250 h. This innovative strategy offers a promising application pathway for lithium metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]