The promise of alloy anodes for solid-state batteries

Solid-state batteries are a next-generation technology that could feature improved safety and energy density, but reliably integrating high-capacity electrodematerials to enable high energywhile retaining stable long-term cycling remains a challenge. Anode materials that alloy with lithium, such as silicon, tin, and aluminum, offer high capacity that can yield high-energy battery cells. The use of alloy anodes in solid-state batteries potentially offers major mechanistic benefits compared to other anode contenders and battery systems, such as lithium metal in solid-state architectures or alloys in liquid-electrolyte batteries. This perspective discusses key advantages of alloy anode materials for solid-state batteries, including the avoidance of the short circuiting observed with lithium metal and the chemo-mechanical stabilization of the solid-electrolyte interphase. We further discuss open research questions and challenges in engineering alloy-anode-based solid-state batteries, with the goal of advancing our understanding and control of alloy anode materials within solid-state architectures toward commercial application.

Automated summary

Solid-state batteries, with alloy anode materials, have the potential to provide improved safety, high energy density, and stable cycling. They offer advantages such as avoiding short circuiting and stabilizing the solid-electrolyte interface.