Janus-faced graphene substrate stabilizes lithium metal anode.

[Display omitted] • 3D Janus face graphene (JFG) substrate is prepared in large scale by facile process. • Distinct Janus face comes from different aperture size and N-doping on both sides. • Dendrite growth is suppressed when lithiophilic layer is as Li deposition interface. • Li@JFG composite anode achieves efficient Li electro-plating/stripping. • Li@JFG anode has high coulomb efficiency, small polarization and stable cycle. The dendrite growth and irreversibility of lithium (Li) metal anode seriously hinders the wide-scale application of high-energy–density rechargeable batteries. Here, we report a thin Janus-faced graphene substrate, consisting of lithiophilic-lithiophobic faces separately, for Li plating/stripping. The visualized analysis demonstrates that the unique Janus-faced graphene structure provides different lithiophilic sites and pore channels to steer the Li electrodeposition and suppress the dendrite growth. As expected, the Janus-faced graphene anode achieves long-term Li plating/stripping with high Coulombic efficiency, small polarization and stable cycling throughout the symmetry, asymmetry and LiFePO 4 full cells. Such an encouraging strategy for reversible Li plating/stripping provides a promising way to design long-life carbon-base anode materials for Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]