Lithium metal anodes are ideal for realizing high-energy-density batteries owing to their advantages, namely high capacity and low reduction potentials. However, the utilization of lithium anodes is restricted by the detrimental lithium dendrite formation, repeated formation and fracturing of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and large volume expansion, resulting in severe “dead lithium” and subsequent short circuiting. Currently, the researches are principally focused on inhibition of dendrite formation toward extending and maintaining battery lifespans. Herein, we summarize the strategies employed in interfacial engineering and current-collector host designs as well as the emerging electrochemical catalytic methods for evolving-accelerating-ameliorating lithium ion/atom diffusion processes. First, strategies based on the fabrication of robust SEIs are reviewed from the aspects of compositional constituents including inorganic, organic, and hybrid SEI layers derived from electrolyte additives or artificial pretreatments. Second, the summary and discussion are presented for metallic and carbon-based three-dimensional current collectors serving as lithium hosts, including their functionality in decreasing local deposition current density and the effect of introducing lithiophilic sites. Third, we assess the recent advances in exploring alloy compounds and atomic metal catalysts to accelerate the lateral lithium ion/atom diffusion kinetics to average the spatial lithium distribution for smooth plating. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of metallic lithium anodes are presented, providing insights into the modulation of diffusion kinetics toward achieving dendrite-free lithium metal batteries.

中文翻译：

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走向无枝晶金属锂阳极：从结构设计到最佳电化学扩散动力学

锂金属负极由于其高容量和低还原电位等优点，是实现高能量密度电池的理想选择。然而，锂负极的利用受到不利的锂枝晶形成、固体电解质界面（SEI）的反复形成和破裂以及大体积膨胀的限制，导致严重的“死锂”和随后的短路。目前，研究主要集中在抑制枝晶形成以延长和维持电池寿命。在此，我们总结了界面工程和集电器主体设计中采用的策略，以及用于进化-加速-改善锂离子/原子扩散过程的新兴电化学催化方法。第一的，基于制造稳健 SEI 的策略从组成成分的方面进行了回顾，包括来自电解质添加剂或人工预处理的无机、有机和混合 SEI 层。其次，对用作锂主体的金属和碳基三维集电器进行了总结和讨论，包括它们在降低局部沉积电流密度方面的功能以及引入亲锂位点的效果。第三，我们评估了在探索合金化合物和原子金属催化剂以加速横向锂离子/原子扩散动力学以平均空间锂分布以实现平滑电镀方面的最新进展。最后，介绍了金属锂负极的机遇和挑战，