Abstract:
Lithium metal batteries have emerged as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems due to their ultrahigh theoretical capacity (
3860 mAh g
−1) and extremely low electrode potential (−3.04 V vs NHE). However, critical challenges including uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth and severe electrode volume expansion significantly hinder their practical implementation. Although substantial progress has been achieved in stabilizing lithium metal anodes, current research predominantly focuses on thick lithium (>200 μm), which not only results in low active material utilization but also introduces evaluation deviations for modification strategies, ultimately failing to meet the design requirements of high-energy-density batteries. Notably, the scalable fabrication of thin lithium foils (<50 μm) remains a formidable challenge. This review commences with the development of lithium-metal batteries and systematically expounds on the necessity of the development of practical thin lithium anodes, then comprehensively summarizes recent advancements in thin lithium fabrication techniques and stabilization strategies. Finally, future research directions are proposed to address existing technical bottlenecks, offering both theoretical guidance and technical references for advancing the industrial application of safe and durable lithium metal batteries.