Structural design for anodes of lithium-ion batteries: emerging horizons from materials to electrodes

High performance anodes are of great significance to high energy-power lithium ion batteries (LIBs); however, challenges are still pervasive in advancing new materials beyond commercial graphite. In this review, we outline the subsistent concerns on these adolescent anodes and systematically summarize the representative problem-solving designs, which are classified into two major categories totally including seven types, namely low-dimensional, inter-spatial, and composite design on materials; and ordered-array, cross-aligned, alternating-layer, and 3D porous design on electrodes. After generalizing advantageous features, we further highlight the burgeoning design horizon from materials to electrodes as well as their competences and perspectives to push the energy storage of LIBs to the next-generation level. These designing rationales represent general models of advanced LIB anodes and can illuminate the material and electrode innovations in other energy storage realms.