Toward practical anode-free lithium pouch batteries

Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) display enormous potential as next-generation energy-storage systems owing to their enhanced energy density, reduced cost, and simple assembly process. Thus, the analysis and evaluation of actual anode-free Li pouch batteries (AFLPBs) are indispensable for realizing practical ultrahigh energy density and offering a development guide for commercial applications. However, to date, the design strategies, optimization principles, and future perspectives for AFLPBs have not been summarized in detail. Accordingly, the aim of this review is to provide a systematic overview of high-energy-density AFLPBs, focusing on the research progress in recent years, and predict subsequent development directions. First, the pivotal designment parameters for achieving practical ultrahigh-energy-density AFLPBs are proposed to confine the research boundary discriminating coin-level AFLMB assessment. Subsequently, the failure mechanism and electrochemical performance assessment of AFLPBs are analyzed to disclose the distinctive running and invalidation mechanisms that should be correspondingly solved. Finally, by revealing the challenges and opportunities faced in this field, the perspectives on practical AFLPBs are deduced with insights.