Multi-principal amorphous alloy skeleton for enhanced alkali metal deposition

Alkali (Li, Na, K) metal anodes are pivotal for advancing high-energy-density batteries, a cornerstone of next-generation energy storage technologies. However, inhomogeneous metal deposition and dendritic growth during plating/stripping remain critical bottlenecks, severely compromising the cycling lifespan and practical application of alkali metal batteries. Here we theoretically predict that nanoscale amorphous alloy with low work function value can effectively facilitate continuous electronic transmission throughout the long-term deposition process. Furthermore, we experimentally fabricate an ultrafine multi-principal amorphous alloy confined within hollow carbon capsules (UMA Alloy@C), designed as unique alkali metal skeleton. The amorphous nanoparticles, characterized by their atomic-level disorder, not only achieve the dominant orientation deposition of (110) planes but also show higher yield strength and Young’s modulus, so that promote the uniform deposition of alkali metal and suppress dendrite growth. The 3D hypercrosslinked carbon skeleton provides adequate channels for enhanced ion transport kinetics. With such a multi-functional skeleton, we achieve ultralong-term stable cycling at 0.5 mA cm −2 for over 4000 h (>5 months), along with unprecedented reversible Li/Na/K plating/stripping at a large areal capacity (10 mAh cm −2 ). Moreover, the protected anodes demonstrate excellent full-cell stability when paired with universal Li/Na/K cathodes, highlighting their significant potential for practical applications in alkali metal batteries. • UMA Alloy@C skeleton is fabricated to induce dominant (110) plane deposition of alkali metals. • Amorphous alloy core endows the skeleton with high alkali affinity and superior mechanical strength. • 3D hollow carbon structure enables fast ion/electron transport and relieves volume expansion. • The skeleton serves as a universal anode design for high-energy-density Li/Na/K metal batteries.