Anode-Free Cell Concepts: Critical Analysis and Development of Practical Batteries

Anode-free batteries (AFBs) are one of the most discussed battery concepts due to their potential advantages in terms of energy density, reduced manufacturing costs, and improved sustainability compared to conventional lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries. However, many fundamental and practical challenges remain to be overcome in order to realize their full potential. This Perspective provides a critical overview of the latest advances in liquid and solid electrolyte AFBs, including an analysis of practical cell performance and an assessment of the advantages and challenges of this cell concept. Since the processes at the negative current collector are central to the electrochemical performance of AFBs, they are discussed in detail, with a focus on metal plating/stripping mechanisms and key degradation processes, as well as strategies for optimizing electrode properties to enable stable cycling. In addition, the associated processes in other cell components (positive electrode, electrolyte, and critical interfaces) are discussed to understand their influence on the overall performance of the cell. Finally, we identify critical gaps in understanding, data accessibility, reporting standards, and metrics that need to be addressed to guide future research and the transition from laboratory scale to practical, high-performance devices.