This book provides comprehensive coverage of Lithium (Li) metal anodes for rechargeable
batteries. Li is an ideal anode material for rechargeable batteries due to its extremely high
theoretical specific capacity (3860 mAh g-1) low density (0.59 g cm-3) and the lowest
negative electrochemical potential (¿3.040 V vs. standard hydrogenelectrodes). Unfortunately
uncontrollable dendritic Li growth and limited Coulombic efficiency during Li deposition
stripping inherent in these batteries have prevented their practical applications over the past
40 years. With the emergence of post Liion batteries safe and efficient operation of Li metal
anodes has become an enabling technology which may determine the fate of several promising
candidates for the next generation energy storage systems including rechargeable Li-air
batteries Li-S batteries and Li metal batteries which utilize intercalation compounds as
cathodes. In this work various factors that affect the morphology and Coulombic efficiency of
Li anodes are analyzed. The authors also present the technologies utilized to characterize the
morphology of Li deposition and the results obtained by modeling of Li dendrite growth. Finally
recent developments especially the new approaches that enable safe and efficient operation of
Li metal anodes at high current densities are reviewed. The urgent need and perspectives in
this field are also discussed. The fundamental understanding and approaches presented in this
work will be critical for the applicationof Li metal anodes. The general principles and
approaches can also be used in other metal electrodes and general electrochemical deposition of
metal films.
