Lithium　metal　is　a　promising　anode　material　for　high-energy-density　batteries　due　to　its　exceptionally　high　theoretical　capacity.　However,　challenges　such　as　non-uniform　deposition　of　lithium　during　charge/discharge　cycling,　which　leads　to　the　growth　of　lithium　dendrites,　impede　the　commercialization　of　lithium-metal　anodes.　Herein,　we　developed　a　lithophilic　NiCo2O4　(NCO)　nanoneedle-modified　carbonized　cotton　napkin　(CCN)　to　serve　as　a　low-cost　and　lightweight　interlayer　for　lithium　metal　anodes.　The　three-dimensional　carbon　network　provides　superior　electronic　and　ionic　conductivity,　while　the　high　lithiophilicity　of　NCO　effectively　reduces　the　nucleation　overpotential　of　lithium　and　suppresses　dendrite　formation.　Consequently,　the　NCO@CCN-Li　symmetric　cell　demonstrates　a　stable　cycling　performance　of　700　h　at　20　mA　cm−2/10　mAh　cm−2　and　maintains　a　stable　cycle　for　350　h　even　when　the　current　density　is　increased　to　40　mA　cm−2.　Furthermore,　the　full　cell　paired　with　the　LiFePO4　cathode　(10.5　mg　cm−2)　retains　a　discharge　specific　capacity　of　134.5　mAh　g−1　after　200　cycles,　with　a　capacity　retention　rate　of　99.6　%　and　a　coulombic　efficiency　of　99.7　%.　This　work　provides　valuable　insights　for　the　development　of　high-energy-density　lithium-metal　batteries.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.