Sodium　metal　is　considered　as　an　excellent　anode　material　for　sodium-based　energy　storage　devices　with　both　high　energy　density　and　low　cost,　but　the　uncontrollable　growth　of　sodium　metal　seriously　limits　its　application.　Herein,　we　firstly　propose　3D　spaced　TiO2　nanotube　arrays　(STNTs)　uniformly　coated　with　ultra-fine　metal　(Ag,　Cu)　nanocrystals　as　a　substrate　with　absorption-diffusion　regulation　strategy　to　control　the　sodium　metal　deposition　behavior.　TiO2　has　a　higher　sodiophilic　activity　with　larger　Na　absorption　energy　than　the　traditional　copper　substrate.　Moreover,　it　is　found　by　ab　initio　molecular　dynamics　(AIMD)　simulations　that　it　is　much　easier　for　Na　to　spread　upon　the　surface　of　silver　compared　to　copper,　and　thus　forming　a　mixed　Na-Ag　layer　at　the　interface.　As　a　result,　sodium　metal　is　inclined　to　deposit　inside　or　along　the　nanotube　in　STNTs-Ag　in　nanoscale.　Finally,　STNTs-Ag||Na　half-cell　displays　a　high　Coulombic　efficiency　∼99.5%　even　after　500　cycles　with　1　mAh　cm−2.　Symmetric　cell　of　STNTs-Ag-Na　exhibits　an　ultralow　overpotential　of　4　mV　and　a　long-term　cycling　life　over　1400　h.　Moreover,　STNTs-Ag-Na　anode　coupling　with　Na3V2(PO4)3　cathode　exhibits　a　significantly　reduced　polarization　voltage　with　22　mV　and　improved　rate　performance　with　110　mAhg−1　at　10　C.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.