Large-Area Copper Nanofoam with Hierarchical Structure for Use as Electrode

A facile method is based on a pack-cementation process using large-area copper foil instead of copper powder. By controlling a pack-cementation time and an amount of alloying element (e.g., aluminum), a hierarchical microporous or nanoporous copper can be created. When coated with tin active material, the hierarchical microporous or nanoporous copper can be used as an advanced lithium-ion battery anode. A coin-cell test exhibited a four-fold higher areal capacity (e.g., 7.4 milliamp-hours per square centimeter without any performance degradation up to 20 cycles) as compared to a traditional graphite anode.