Anode-Free Batteries: Pioneering Energy Storage Revolution Yosef Nikodimos, Kassie Nigus Shitaw, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Tsung-I Yeh, Yu-Chun Huang, Chia-Lung Hsieh, Hsuan-Hsuan Su, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang Chemical Reviews, 2026 Anode-free batteries (AFBs) represent a transformative approach in energy storage technologies, eliminating the anode to achieve remarkable improvements in energy density, safety, and manufacturing simplicity. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental phenomena governing the operation of AFBs during metal plating and stripping, including nucleation and growth, dendrite formation, dead lithium formation and regeneration mechanisms, morphological evolution, and electrolyte decomposition. The challenges associated with AFBs are critically examined, alongside various designed innovative strategies. Expanding the discussion beyond lithium, this review explores advancements in anode-free sulfur, sodium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, aluminum, and all-solid-state batteries, highlighting the unique challenges and solutions tailored to each system. Critical parameters influencing performance, including Coulombic efficiency, electrolyte-to-cathode ratio, and cycling protocols, are analyzed to provide insights into optimizing these systems. Furthermore, the potential of AFBs as a platform for probing interfacial phenomena is emphasized, with applications in visualizing metal deposition, quantifying dead metal formation, and rapid screening of electrolytes. The review concludes with a perspective on future research directions aimed at addressing current limitations and accelerating the practical deployment of AFBs. By bridging fundamental understanding and innovative design, this work positions AFBs as a pivotal technology for the next generation of high-performance energy storage systems.
Structural evolution and stabilities of (CuIn)nTe2 and ((CuIn)nTe2)−(n = 1–8) clusters via DFT study Kidane Goitom Gerezgiher, Bereket Woldegbreal Taklu, Taame Abraha Berhe, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Hagos Woldeghebriel Zeweldi Rsc Advances, 2026 CuInTe 2 is a promising semiconductor with a tunable bandgap between 1.0 and 1.2 eV, allowing it to efficiently absorb sunlight and convert it into usable energy.
Unveiling the Chemical Stability and Solvent Compatibility of Halide Solid-State Electrolytes: Insights from Isothermal Calorimetric Titration and Synchrotron Spectroscopy Yosef Nikodimos, Bereket Woldegbreal Taklu, Chia-Yu Chang, Kassie Nigus Shitaw, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Zabish Bilew Muche, Siyanand Kumar Chaudhary, Gashahun Gobena Serbessa, Tsung-I Yeh, Semaw Kebede Merso, Shadab Ali Ahmed, Jia-Min Ke, Endalkachew Asefa Moges, Sheng-Chiang Yang, She-Huang Wu, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang Chemistry of Materials, 2025 As interest in next-generation all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) grows, understanding the impact of solution-based processing on solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) becomes crucial. This study examines the interaction of Li3InCl6 (LIC), a halide SSE, with various solvents, including protic, aprotic polar, and nonpolar types. LIC powder is mixed with ten solvents selected for their diverse physical and chemical properties. Through a series of analytical techniques, this study explores the compatibility of LIC with different solvent environments. The LIC–solvent mixtures are analyzed through color observation, pH measurement, and isothermal calorimetric titration. Moreover, after solvent removal, the dried LIC powder is further characterized using diffraction and various advanced spectroscopic techniques. The findings reveal that LIC is chemically stable in nonpolar solvents but exhibits instability in most polar solvents, with ethanol showing the highest stability among the polar options. It is also observed that indium reacts with highly electronegative elements such as oxygen and nitrogen based on the hard–soft acid–base principle. Furthermore, LIC in protic solvents results in acidic solutions, whereas in aprotic solvents, it exhibits basicity. These results are crucial for the development of ASSBs and underscore the importance of understanding the chemical compatibility of LIC with various solvent systems for advanced energy storage applications.
Fluorine-free electrolytes in batteries: principles, strategies, and advances Boligarla Vinay, Yosef Nikodimos, Tripti Agnihotri, Shadab Ali Ahmed, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Rehbar Hasan, Elango Balaji Tamilarasan, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang Energy and Environmental Science, 2025 Electrolytes play a pivotal role in battery technologies, influencing performance and safety.
Boosting stability in Ni-rich cathodes: a synergistic approach to surface and bulk modifications for advanced lithium-ion batteries Shadab Ali Ahmed, Tripti Agnihotri, Ashok Ranjan, Chia-Yu Chang, Chun-Chi Chang, Rehbar Hasan, Yosef Nikodimos, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, She-Huang Wu, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025 A TiNb2O7 coating on LiNi0.83Mn0.06Co0.11O2 enhances structural stability, reduces side reactions, and improves lithium diffusion, boosting capacity retention from 58.6% to 81.9% after cycling – offering a robust strategy for Ni-rich cathodes.
Integrating electrodes and PVDF-HFP/Kevlar nanofiber separator for multi-functions using electrospinning Zabish Bilew Muche, Yosef Nikodimos, Chia-Yu Chang, Semaw Kebede Merso, Teshager Mekonnen Tekaligne, Kassie Nigus Shitaw, Gashahun Gobena Serbessa, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Bereket Woldegbreal Taklu, Tripti Agnihotri, Sheng-Chiang Yang, Jian-Ming Chiu, She-Huang Wu, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025
Two-Step Activations and Liquid Metal Fortified Copper Substrate on Corrosion Tolerance in Anode-Free Lithium–Sulfur Battery Bereket Woldegbreal Taklu, Tsung-I Yeh, Chia-Yu Chang, Teklay Mezgebe Hagos, Yosef Nikodimos, Saravanan Ashok Vallal, Anna Windmüller, Chun-Chi Chang, Kassie Nigus Shitaw, Tripti Agnihotri, Rehbar Hasan, Zabish Bilew Muche, Yu-Chun Huang, Sheng-Chiang Yang, Wei-Nien Su, Bing Joe Hwang ACS Energy Letters, 2025 Capacity fading caused by polysulfide (PS) shuttling is a challenge in lithium–sulfur batteries. Anode-free lithium–sulfur batteries (AFLSBs) with zero excess Li are limited by dendrite and PS-induced reactions from soluble PS-shuttling, which affect cycle life. Here, the Cu current collector (Cu-CC) prone to PS-induced corrosion was studied using a liquid metal, GaIn, as a coating material. GaIn with self-healing properties fortifies uniform nucleation sites, alleviates dendrite growth, and overcomes the corrosion of Cu-CC. Operando confocal OM, in situ XRD, XPS, CV, and morphological-examinations revealed the mitigation of dendritic Li growth and alloy–dealloying mechanisms. The GaIn-Cu-CC under an asymmetric cell with a PS additive exhibits insignificant heat evolution and improved Li reversibility compared to Cu-CC, as revealed by operando heat evolution tests. Ex situ PS treatment resulted in severe corrosion in Cu-CC with substantial morphological alterations, and Cu2S formation was confirmed by XPS and synchrotronic XAS wavelet transform. The extent of in situ PS on AFLSB’s cell was studied under single-step activation (STA) and two-step activation (TSA) of the Li2S cathode. The STA-cathode delivers a capacity retention (CR) of 54.12% and 63.11% using Cu-CC and GaIn-Cu-CC, respectively, after 200 cycles. TSA of the cathode upon GaIn-Cu-CC leads to a 50.11% CR after 250 cycles. The adverse effect of PS on Cu-CC resulted in 33.15% CR after 100 cycles. Formulating a corrosion-tolerant and uniform nucleation site from a coating material in a facile approach enhances the feasibility of Cu-CC in sulfur-rich environments, making capable AFLSBs.
Enabling Ether Electrolyte for Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries by Weakening Solvation Power via Asymmetric Dimer Formation TM Hagos, CW Hsu, Y Nikodimos, BW Taklu, T Agnihotri, A Ranjan, ... Nano Energy, 112022 , 2026 2026
Anode-Free Batteries: Pioneering Energy Storage Revolution Y Nikodimos, KN Shitaw, TM Hagos, TI Yeh, YC Huang, CL Hsieh, HH Su, ... Chemical Reviews , 2026 2026 Citations: 6
Failure mechanisms and scalability of anode-free lithium-metal and lithium–sulfur batteries KN Shitaw, Y Nikodimos, TM Hagos, E Balajig Tamilarasan, BW Taklu, ... Nature Reviews Clean Technology, 1-19 , 2026 2026 Citations: 5
Structural evolution and stabilities of (CuIn) n Te 2 and ((CuIn) n Te 2)−(n= 1–8) clusters via DFT study KG Gerezgiher, BW Taklu, TA Berhe, TM Hagos, HW Zeweldi RSC advances 16 (7), 6106-6118 , 2026 2026
Two-Step Activations and Liquid Metal Fortified Copper Substrate on Corrosion Tolerance in Anode-Free Lithium–Sulfur Battery BW Taklu, TI Yeh, CY Chang, TM Hagos, Y Nikodimos, SA Vallal, ... ACS Energy Letters 10 (11), 5925-5935 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Unveiling the Chemical Stability and Solvent Compatibility of Halide Solid-State Electrolytes: Insights from Isothermal Calorimetric Titration and Synchrotron Spectroscopy Y Nikodimos, BW Taklu, CY Chang, KN Shitaw, TM Hagos, ZB Muche, ... Chemistry of Materials 37 (19), 7622-7634 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Integrating electrodes and PVDF-HFP/Kevlar nanofiber separator for multi-functions using electrospinning ZB Muche, Y Nikodimos, CY Chang, SK Merso, TM Tekaligne, KN Shitaw, ... Chemical Engineering Journal 505, 159493 , 2025 2025 Citations: 15
Enhancing ionic conductivity and air stability of Li7La3Zr2O12 garnet-based electrolyte through dual-dopant strategy HK Bezabh, LH Abrha, SF Chiu, Y Nikodimos, TM Hagos, MC Tsai, ... Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1010, 177277 , 2025 2025 Citations: 18
Boosting stability in Ni-rich cathodes: a synergistic approach to surface and bulk modifications for advanced lithium-ion batteries SA Ahmed, T Agnihotri, A Ranjan, CY Chang, CC Chang, R Hasan, ... Journal of Materials Chemistry A 13 (20), 14846-14857 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Fluorine-free electrolytes in batteries: principles, strategies, and advances B Vinay, Y Nikodimos, T Agnihotri, SA Ahmed, TM Hagos, R Hasan, ... Energy & Environmental Science 18 (15), 7326-7372 , 2025 2025 Citations: 27
Multifunctional fluorinated phosphonate-based localized high concentration electrolytes for safer and high-performance lithium-based batteries T Agnihotri, TH Chu, SK Jiang, SA Ahmed, A Ranjan, EB Tamilarasan, ... Energy Storage Materials 73, 103787 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Tuning Electrolytes with High Solvation Power for an Anode-Free Lithium Metal Battery Operating Under Various Conditions TM Hagos, WN Su, BJ Hwang 245th ECS Meeting (May 26-30, 2024) , 2024 2024
Mechanistic study on artificial stabilization of lithium metal anode via thermal pyrolysis of ammonium fluoride in lithium metal batteries BW Taklu, WN Su, JC Chiou, CY Chang, Y Nikodimos, K Lakshmanan, ... ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 16 (14), 17422-17431 , 2024 2024 Citations: 13
Moisture Robustness of Li 6 PS 5 Cl Argyrodite Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Improved by Nano-Level Treatment with Lewis Acid Additives Y Nikodimos, SK Jiang, SJ Huang, BW Taklu, WH Huang, GB Desta, ... ACS Energy Letters 9 (4), 1844-1852 , 2024 2024 Citations: 48
Heteroatom-coordinated palladium molecular catalysts for sustainable electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide EA Moges, CY Chang, WH Huang, FT Angerasa, K Lakshmanan, ... Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (1), 419-429 , 2023 2023 Citations: 59
Multifunctional electrospun PVDF-HFP gel polymer electrolyte membrane suppresses dendrite growth in anode-free li metal battery Y Nikodimos, WN Su, KN Shitaw, SK Jiang, LH Abrha, MA Weret, ... Energy Storage Materials 61, 102861 , 2023 2023 Citations: 73
Air-stable iodized-oxychloride argyrodite sulfide and anionic swap on the practical potential window for all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries BW Taklu, Y Nikodimos, HK Bezabh, K Lakshmanan, TM Hagos, ... Nano Energy 112, 108471 , 2023 2023 Citations: 48
Partially fluorinated electrolyte for high-voltage cathode with sulfurized carbon anode from polyacrylonitrile for lithium-ion battery GB Berhe, WN Su, TT Hagos, HK Bezabh, TM Hagos, BJ Hwang Journal of Power Sources 558, 232567 , 2023 2023 Citations: 14
In-Depth Insight into a Passive Film through Hydrogen-Bonding Network in an Aqueous Zinc Battery HK Bezabh, JC Chiou, TA Nigatu, TM Hagos, SK Jiang, Y Nikodimos, ... ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 15 (6), 7949-7958 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
The surface modification of electrode materials using gel polymer electrolytes for anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMB) HG Redda, Y Nikodimos, WN Su, RS Chen, TM Hagos, HK Bezabh, ... Materials Today Energy 30, 101141 , 2022 2022 Citations: 13
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Locally Concentrated LiPF 6 in a Carbonate-Based Electrolyte with Fluoroethylene Carbonate as a Diluent for Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries TT Hagos, B Thirumalraj, CJ Huang, LH Abrha, TM Hagos, GB Berhe, ... ACS applied materials & interfaces 11 (10), 9955-9963 , 2019 2019 Citations: 217
Concentrated dual-salt electrolyte to stabilize Li metal and increase cycle life of anode free Li-metal batteries TT Beyene, HK Bezabh, MA Weret, TM Hagos, CJ Huang, CH Wang, ... Journal of The Electrochemical Society 166 (8), A1501-A1509 , 2019 2019 Citations: 168
Dual-doped cubic garnet solid electrolytes with superior air stability LH Abrha, TT Hagos, Y Nikodimos, HK Bezabh, GB Berhe, TM Hagos, ... ACS applied materials & interfaces 12 (23), 25709-25717 , 2020 2020 Citations: 116
Dual electrolyte additives of potassium hexafluorophosphate and tris (trimethylsilyl) phosphite for anode-free lithium metal batteries TM Hagos, GB Berhe, TT Hagos, HK Bezabh, LH Abrha, TT Beyene, ... Electrochimica Acta 316, 52-59 , 2019 2019 Citations: 102
Li7La2. 75Ca0. 25Zr1. 75Nb0. 25O12@ LiClO4 composite film derived solid electrolyte interphase for anode-free lithium metal battery LH Abrha, TA Zegeye, TT Hagos, H Sutiono, TM Hagos, GB Berhe, ... Electrochimica Acta 325, 134825 , 2019 2019 Citations: 82
Multifunctional electrospun PVDF-HFP gel polymer electrolyte membrane suppresses dendrite growth in anode-free li metal battery Y Nikodimos, WN Su, KN Shitaw, SK Jiang, LH Abrha, MA Weret, ... Energy Storage Materials 61, 102861 , 2023 2023 Citations: 73
Heteroatom-coordinated palladium molecular catalysts for sustainable electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide EA Moges, CY Chang, WH Huang, FT Angerasa, K Lakshmanan, ... Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (1), 419-429 , 2023 2023 Citations: 59
Developing high-voltage carbonate-ether mixed electrolyte via anode-free cell configuration TT Hagos, WN Su, CJ Huang, B Thirumalraj, SF Chiu, LH Abrha, ... Journal of Power Sources 461, 228053 , 2020 2020 Citations: 55
A powerful protocol based on anode-free cells combined with various analytical techniques TM Hagos, HK Bezabh, CJ Huang, SK Jiang, WN Su, BJ Hwang Accounts of chemical research 54 (24), 4474-4485 , 2021 2021 Citations: 54
Moisture Robustness of Li 6 PS 5 Cl Argyrodite Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Improved by Nano-Level Treatment with Lewis Acid Additives Y Nikodimos, SK Jiang, SJ Huang, BW Taklu, WH Huang, GB Desta, ... ACS Energy Letters 9 (4), 1844-1852 , 2024 2024 Citations: 48
Air-stable iodized-oxychloride argyrodite sulfide and anionic swap on the practical potential window for all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries BW Taklu, Y Nikodimos, HK Bezabh, K Lakshmanan, TM Hagos, ... Nano Energy 112, 108471 , 2023 2023 Citations: 48
Resolving the phase instability of a fluorinated ether, carbonate-based electrolyte for the safe operation of an anode-free lithium metal battery TM Hagos, TT Hagos, HK Bezabh, GB Berhe, LH Abrha, SF Chiu, ... ACS Applied Energy Materials 3 (11), 10722-10733 , 2020 2020 Citations: 47
Guiding lithium-ion flux to avoid cell's short circuit and extend cycle life for an anode-free lithium metal battery HH Weldeyohannes, LH Abrha, Y Nikodimos, KN Shitaw, TM Hagos, ... Journal of Power Sources 506, 230204 , 2021 2021 Citations: 46
Enhancing the electrochemical performance of a flexible solid-state supercapacitor using a gel polymer electrolyte HG Redda, Y Nikodimos, WN Su, RS Chen, SK Jiang, LH Abrha, ... Materials Today Communications 26, 102102 , 2021 2021 Citations: 38
Developing ester-based fluorinated electrolyte with LiPO2F2 as an additive for high-rate and thermally robust anode-free lithium metal battery BT Hotasi, TM Hagos, CJ Huang, SK Jiang, BA Jote, KN Shitaw, ... Journal of Power Sources 548, 232047 , 2022 2022 Citations: 32
Bridging role of ethyl methyl carbonate in fluorinated electrolyte on ionic transport and phase stability for lithium-ion batteries HK Bezabh, SF Chiu, TM Hagos, MC Tsai, Y Nikodimos, HG Redda, ... Journal of Power Sources 494, 229760 , 2021 2021 Citations: 30
Fluorine-free electrolytes in batteries: principles, strategies, and advances B Vinay, Y Nikodimos, T Agnihotri, SA Ahmed, TM Hagos, R Hasan, ... Energy & Environmental Science 18 (15), 7326-7372 , 2025 2025 Citations: 27
Resolving anodic and cathodic interface-incompatibility in solid-state lithium metal battery via interface infiltration of designed liquid electrolytes Y Nikodimos, WN Su, BW Taklu, SK Merso, TM Hagos, CJ Huang, ... Journal of Power Sources 535, 231425 , 2022 2022 Citations: 25
A new class of lithium-ion battery using sulfurized carbon anode from polyacrylonitrile and lithium manganese oxide cathode GB Berhe, WN Su, CJ Huang, TM Hagos, TT Hagos, HK Bezabh, ... Journal of Power Sources 434, 126641 , 2019 2019 Citations: 21
Roles of film-forming additives in diluted and concentrated electrolytes for lithium metal batteries: A density functional theory-based approach HK Bezabh, MC Tsai, TT Hagos, TT Beyene, GB Berhe, TM Hagos, ... Electrochemistry Communications 113, 106685 , 2020 2020 Citations: 19