Near-perfect suppression of Li dendrite growth by novel porous hollow carbon fibers embedded with ZnO nanoparticles as stable and efficient anode for Li metal batteries

•Porous hollow carbon fiber with ZnO nanoparticles is fabricated as Li host framework.•The pores in the shell provide pathway for Li ions into the core space.•The Li host framework shows high stability and capacity retention.•The role and important of the pores in Li plating/stripping are demonstrated.