Issue

Vol. 19 (2027)

Architecting Anode Current Collectors for Practical Anode-Free Alkali Metal Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02355-w
Kai Tang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Zihan Shen
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Wen Xie
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Pengfei Song
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Longcheng Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Dongshuang Wu
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Zhichuan J. Xu
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore

Corresponding Author: Zhichuan J. Xu

xuzc@ntu.edu.sg

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 19 (2027), Article Number: 53

Abstract

Anode-free alkali metal batteries (AFAMBs) are emerging as a compelling strategy to surpass the cell-level energy density limits of Li-ion batteries while simplifying battery configuration. In these systems, the working anode forms in situ on a bare current collector and is continuously reshaped during cycling with a limited alkali metal inventory. As a result, the anode current collector is not merely a passive electron conductor, but a multifunctional interfacial platform that governs alkali metal nucleation, growth, stripping, and interphase evolution. This review examines the fundamental differences among anode-free lithium, sodium, and potassium systems and highlights key performance metrics for practical AFAMBs. Recent current collector engineering strategies developed for these chemistries are then summarized. Essential parameters shaping current collector design are identified, including electronic conductivity, alkali metal affinity, collector morphology, and interphase stability. Finally, practical design principles are presented to balance electrochemical performance with manufacturability under realistic operating conditions. This review aims to clarify the alkali metal-dependent design logic of current collectors and to provide guidance for the practical development of next-generation anode-free batteries.


Highlights:
1 A systematic comparison of anode-free lithium, sodium, and potassium battery systems, emphasizing their distinct energy density, volume change, and interfacial instability.
2 A current-collector-centered analysis of anode-free alkali metal batteries, highlighting how current collectors govern alkali metal nucleation, growth, stripping, and interphase evolution under limited alkali metal inventory.
3 A practical framework for the development of anode-free alkali metal batteries, integrating performance metrics, current collector design parameters, and manufacturability constraints.

Keywords

Anode-free lithium metal battery Anode-free sodium metal battery Anode-free potassium metal battery Current collector engineering Solid electrolyte interphase
Tang, Kai, Zihan Shen, Wen Xie, Pengfei Song, Longcheng Zhang, Dongshuang Wu, and Zhichuan J. Xu. 2026. “Architecting Anode Current Collectors for Practical Anode-Free Alkali Metal Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 19 (October):53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02355-w.
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