Direct visualization and mechanistic insights into initial lithium plating in anode-free lithium metal batteries

Key Points

• Initial lithium plating is visualized, revealing significant implications for anode-free battery technology.
• Energy density advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries position anode-free lithium metal batteries as a promising advancement.
• Observational analysis demonstrates the unique roles of Cu current collectors in facilitating lithium plating.
• These findings point to future enhancements in energy storage technologies and battery designs.