Lithium metal anodes working at 60 mA·cm-2 and 60 mAh·cm-2 through nanoscale lithium-ion adsorbing.

Achieving high-current-density and high-area-capacity operation of Li metal anodes offers promising opportunities for high-performing next-generation batteries. However, high-rate Li deposition suffers from undesired Li-ion depletion especially at the electrolyte-anode interface, which compromises achievable capacity and lifetime. Here, electronegative graphene quantum dots are synthesized and assembled into an ultra-thin overlayer capable of efficient Li-ion adsorbing at the nanoscale on Li-metal to fully relieve Li-ion depletion. The protected Li anode achieves long-term reversible Li plating/stripping over 1000 h at both superior current density of 60 mA cm-2 and areal capacity of 60 mAh cm-2 . Implementation of the protected anode allows for the construction of Li-air full battery with both enhanced rate capability and cycling performance.