Owing to the emergence of energy storage and electric vehicles, the
desire for safe high-energy-density energy storage devices has increased
research interest in anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs). Unlike
general LMBs, in which excess Li exists to compensate for the
irreversible loss of Li, only the current collector is employed as an
anode and paired with a lithiated cathode in the fabrication of AFLMBs.
Owing to their unique cell configuration, AFLMBs have attractive
characteristics, including the highest energy density, safety, and
cost-effectiveness. However, developing AFLMBs with extended cyclability
remains an issue for practical applications because the high reactivity
of Li with limited inventory causes severely low Coulombic efficiency,
poor cyclability, and dendrite growth. To address these issues,
tremendous effort has been devoted to stabilize Li-metal anodes for
AFLMBs. In this review, we highlight the importance and challenges of
AFLMBs. Then, we thoroughly review diverse strategies, such as modifying
current collectors, the formation of robust interfaces by engineering
advanced electrolytes, and operation protocols. Finally, a future
perspective on the strategy is provided to insight into the basis of
future research. We hope that this review provides a comprehensive
understanding by reviewing previous research and arousing more interest
in this field.