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https://doi.org/10.53941/matsus.2025.100004
Kannan, S., & Ramadoss, A. Demystifying the Potential of Anode-Less Alkali Metal Batteries: Uncovering the Role of Liquid and Solid Electrolyte Combinations. Materials and Sustainability. 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.53941/matsus.2025.100004
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025
Copyright (c) 2025 by the authors.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Review

Demystifying the Potential of Anode-Less Alkali Metal Batteries: Uncovering the Role of Liquid and Solid Electrolyte Combinations

Shruti Kannan and Ananthakumar Ramadoss *

Advanced Research School for Technology & Product Simulation (ARSTPS), School for Advanced Research in Petrochemicals (SARP), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), T.V.K. Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032, India

* Correspondence: ananth@cipet.gov.in or ananth.cipet@gmail.com; Tel.: +91-8895001133

Received: 14 November 2024; Revised: 1 January 2025; Accepted: 23 January 2025; Published: 11 February 2025

Abstract: Contribution to sustainable energy can be effectively routed to decarbonise power generation and transport sectors, by augmenting the need for electrochemical energy storage devices such as batteries which can endow greater energy density, longevity and safety to the portable electronic devices. Particularly, anode-less alkali metal batteries (ALAMBs) are promising owing to their cost-effectiveness, ease of manufacturing, and utilizing a host anode renders the systems with recoupable gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. However, interfacial contact resistance, limited ion pathways, and the formation of dead alkali metals contribute to reduced cation utilization during repeated cycling, diminishing the long-term performance and practical viability of the system. In response, various strategies to optimize the deposition substrate, such as the anodic current collector, interface and electrolyte have been suggested to prolong cell lifespan. However, most of these approaches are still largely empirical and lack comprehensive diagnostic tools to unravel the complex relationship between the structural changes in the cathode and the nature of alkali metal deposition.  This review provides a comprehensive summary of the contemporary improvements carried out in the design and engineering of ALAMBs highlighting the moderation approaches involving both liquid and solid electrolytes to enhance the cycle life, and safety greatly. Finally, the compensatory effects with prospects into the cycling protocols to realize the true energy density of the system are also systematically outlined.

Keywords:

anode-less alkali metal batteries current collector interface liquid electrolyte solid electrolyte high energy density

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