Reduction reactions with lithium at >0.3 V vs Li/Li + make germanium prospectively compatible with aluminum current collectors to form a copper-free lithium-ion cell anode that may enable lithium-ion cells that are more tolerant to overdischarge. Targeted 2.0 mAh/cm 2 germanium nanoparticle electrodes with an aluminum foil (Ge−Al electrode) current collector were fabricated and tested versus lithium from 0.3 to 1.5 V vs Li/Li + in 1.0 M LiPF 6 1:1 ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (v/v) electrolyte and demonstrated a peak reversible capacity of 342 mAh/g Ge at a targeted C/10 rate. A targeted 2.0 mAh/cm 2 germanium nanoparticle electrode with a copper current collector (Ge−Cu electrode) was also tested from 0.005 to 1.5 V vs Li/Li + , the results of which are utilized as a representative comparison of germanium tested in a conventional lithium-ion anode potential range. Compared to the Ge−Cu electrode, after 50 cycles at a targeted C/10 rate the Ge−Al electrode showed 90% vs 18% capacity retention. Post-mortem analysis with XPS, SEM/EDS, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR showed that compared to the Ge−Cu electrode the Ge−Al electrode had (1) less oxygen, fluorine, and carbon deposition, (2) less germanium amorphization, (3) formation of Li x C y and Ge−H, and (4) less Li 2 O formation. After 150 cycles at equivalent targeted rates, the Ge−Al electrode also had significantly less mid-frequency impedance growth than the Ge−Cu electrode. Modeling of 18650 format LiNiCoAlO 2 -cathode lithium-ion cells with a Ge−Al anode predicted an achievable energy density and specific energy of up to 491 Wh/L and 198 Wh/kg. A germanium dissolution potential of 4.2 V vs Li/Li + was assigned based on voltammetry and post-mortem SEM/EDS. Cycling of a Ge−Al electrode with an upper potential cutoff of 4.2 V vs Li/Li + every tenth cycle showed 30% capacity retention after 50 cycles, an increased capacity fade attributed to solid electrolyte interphase instability up to 4.2 V vs Li/Li + based on impedance and post-mortem analysis.