Interfacial strategies towards highly stable Li-metal anode of liquid-based Li-metal batteries

During the past ten more years, liquid-electrolytes based lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are always the dominant research. It was considered to be the most promising and feasible high energy density system in the near future. However, many serious problems including inhomogeneous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), the growth of lithium dendrites, volume changes of lithium during plating and unreasonable Li+ ion solvation structure limit their wide implementation. In this review, we aim to summarize the latest achievements and strategies for the protection of the lithium metal anode in the liquid electrolyte. The interface strategies of coating an artificial SEI on lithium anode are discussed firstly, as well as electrolyte- and separation-based modification strategies and then the strategies of constructing conductive and insulating 3D host are summarized. Finally, we propose the existing issues and challenges in the commercialization of the LMBs. This review not only help to solve the main issue for LMBs but also provide the inspiration for any other alkali metal batteries.