anodeless LMFP battery

Want high energy density at low cost?

LMFP anodeless may be right for you!

Researchers at WMG, University of Warwick led by Prof. Louis Piper and Dr. Gerard Bree have tested a new battery chemistry in which the anodefree cell configuration (no anode host material like graphite) is coupled with an LMFP cathode (no cobalt, cost effective, secure supply chain) to create a high energy density, low-cost battery system.

This proposed configuration has multiple advantages over full cells:

  • boosting energy density through reducing stack mass
  • significantly simplifying the manufacturing process
  • reducing cost
In the anodefree cell, the pristine “anode” consists solely of a current collector, typically copper foil. During operation, the cell behaves as a Li-metal cell (involving plating and stripping of Li), and thus anodefree cells are often referred to as “zero-excess” Li-metal cells.

This configuration is however noted for poor cycling stability, a challenge which was also highlighted here. The key findings were as follows:

  • Utilising an LMFP material with 60 % Mn, the anodefree configuration provided a 35 % boost to energy density through the removal of the anode host material.
  • Capacity retention of the LMFP cell compared favourably with a similar Mn-free LFP cell, however is still far short of traditional full cells.
  • Li inventory loss was identified as the major capacity loss mechanism through DVA.
  • Variation of the test protocol (specifically UCV and LCV) significantly affected cell degradation characteristics. A cycling range of 3.0 – 4.5 V was found to be optimum, with the UCV sufficiently high to encompass all electrochemical activity while the LCV was suitable to maintain a constant reservoir of Li on the anode side.
  • The simplified manufacturing process for anodefree cells enabled the scaling of production to pouch cell format, with a 0.2 Wh cell assembled.
  • Finally, utilising a higher Mn of 80 % provided a further enhancement to energy density, at the cost of more rapid capacity loss associated with more Mn dissolution and worse kinetics

The new system is scaled from coin to pouch cell on WMG’s battery pilot line, optimising cycling protocols and validating in real-world conditions. The paper highlights the potential performance advantages AND the remaining challenges (shorter lifetime).

Notes: This content is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.

Bree G, Proprentner D, Paez-Fajardo G, Majherova V, Fiamegkou E, Piper L. Pilot-line LMFP anodefree pouch cells: a scalable, low cost, energy dense Lithium battery. ChemRxiv. 2025; Read the pre-print here: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-9s3m7

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